Ground-breaking surgery performed at Littauer Posted on August 6, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeGround-breaking surgery performed at Littauer Dr. Jian Shen performs area’s first Endoscopic Cervical Spine Surgery Gloversville, NY — At approximately 1p.m. Friday, August 5, 2011 Dr. Jian Shen, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in complex spine care, practicing at Nathan Littauer Hospital, completed the first Endoscopic Cervical Spine Surgery in our area. The patient suffers from a rare spine disease. “The patient reports they already feel a difference from surgery.” said Dr. Shen. The doctor added, “Although it is early in the recovery process, the patient already has improved range of motion”. The patient was released today.Dr. Jian Shen at Nathan Littauer Hospital with the equipment he used for his ground-breaking surgeryHospital President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly stated, “San Francisco, Chicago, Texas and now Gloversville, NY!” Mr. Kelly explained, “According to our research only a few academic centers in the United States perform this type of surgery.” Mr. Kelly added, “Obviously we are thrilled for this patient and for others in our region who suffer with spine problems.”Endoscopic techniques permit smaller incisions, with less muscle damage and less irritation to the nerve root. The resulting loss in muscle strength is also considerably less with endoscopic techniques. “Nationwide there is an increasing demand for minimally invasive, less traumatic techniques. Because of Dr. Shen we can now meet that demand right here in Fulton County.” hospital spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan said. “The patient’s incision was approximately 2 centimeters. The equipment used in this surgery offers the doctor a better view of the spine than traditional techniques.”The family is grateful to Dr. Shen explaining, “We have waited for Dr. Shen to come here. We are very pleased to be in his care.”Minutes after the ground-breaking surgery, the surgery team marks the occasion. From left to right: Pam Dutcher, RN, Dr. Jain Shen, Jacob Dutcher, CRNA.Dr. Shen started practicing at Littauer a few days ago having arrived from the University of San Francisco. Dr. Shen is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in complete spine care. “Surgery is not indicated for every spine problem. Dr. Shen also uses non-surgical techniques to get results” said Ms. McGrattan. After the surgery Dr. Shen concluded, “I cannot say enough good things about Nathan Littauer. From the surgical team to the recovery room staff to the nursing team- they are all top notch.” Mr. Kelly agrees, explaining “I am so proud of our staff at Littauer. They have gladly learned cutting-edge techniques to support Dr. Shen as he makes history in our region.”Dr. Shen reviews images from the surgeryTo learn more about this procedure and Dr. Shen, please visit www.nlh.org or follow us on Facebook.xxx
LITTAUER WELCOMES DR. JIAN SHEN Posted on August 6, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeFellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jian Shen joins LittauerSan Francisco physician brings minimally-invasive spine surgery to area Dr. Jian Shen at Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital is pleased to welcome Jian Shen, MD, PhD to their medical staff. Dr. Shen is practicing with Dr. Russell Cecil and Dr. Gerald Ortiz at Littauer’s new Johnstown Surgery Center. “This is a major announcement for our region.” stated Wally Hart, President of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce who met Dr. Shen at a recent reception. He added, “It means a lot to our region to have this cutting-edge expertise here.” Laurence E. Kelly Littauer’s President and CEO agreed noting, “Dr. Shen could have chosen to practice anywhere in the country. And he is coming directly from the University here to our community.” He added, “To have him treating people at Littauer is an enormous boon to the people who suffer with pain in our region.” Dr. Shen arrived a few days ago from the University of San Francisco. He explained his reason to come here as, “I chose to practice here because I want to bring cutting-edge spine care from big academic centers to this community.” He added, “I am very happy with the choice I made, I feel like I can do more here.” He added, “The staff at Littauer is top-notch.”Dr. Shen offers complete spine careDr. Shen offers complete spine care to people who suffer with spine problems. He is versed in minimally-invasive and complex spine surgery. He has already completed New York State’s first Endoscopic Cervical Sine Surgery at Littauer. As an orthopedic surgeon, he is well-versed in non operative (including spinal injections) and operative treatment of all spine conditions for people of all ages. He also can address back pain, neck pain, sciatica, leg, shoulder and arm pain caused by spine problems. While surgery is not indicated for every patient, Dr. Shen is also able to provide non-surgical therapies as well. He explained, “If I can get the patient better using non-surgical techniques like ESI (Epidural Spine Injections) or physical therapy I am very happy.”Dr. Shen’s main expertise has been on minimally invasive decompression/fusion surgery, as well as complex deformity/scoliosis and revision spine surgery. Minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery is a technique that allows the surgeon to perform an operation that normally is done via a large midline incision. This type of surgery uses a much smaller incision, allowing for significantly less tissue damage and quicker recovery.“He has a stellar background.” stated Hospital Spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan. After getting a PhD in basic science research in Pharmacology, Dr. Shen went on and finished his medical school education at Cornell University Medical College in New York City, New York. After a surgical internship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, he completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Shen went on to finish a spine surgery fellowship from 2010 to 2011 at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California. He also has earned many accolades including: The Gold Medal, Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, Wake Forest University Medical Center, The Basil M. Boyd, MD Memorial Resident Award, 24th Annual Oscar Miller Day Symposium the Katherine Wolcott Walker Resident Research Award, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) and the Academic Achievement Award, Wake Forest University Medical Center among others. In the coming years, Dr. Shen hopes to create a Spine Center of Excellence in the Adirondacks.Dr. Shen speaks to Fulton County President, Wally Hart at a Littauer receptionHospital staff, board members and community members met Dr. Shen on Monday August 1, 2011 at a special reception. “Many people are commenting on how personable he is.” said Ms. McGrattan. One Littauer staff person said upon meeting him, “What a brilliant man. He is the type of man I could listen to for hours. He truly knows his stuff! Very personable and an awesome asset to our hospital family!” Patients agree. A trauma patient who broke a vertebra in a recent car accident saw Dr. Shen this week and reported, “He was a very caring physician who was very empathetic to what I was going through.”Dr. Shen explains that one of his reasons he came to this area is because his goal is to “interact personally with each patient, so they do not feel like a number”. He said, “Practicing at Littauer allows me to do that. I cannot say enough good things about the staff at Littauer.” He concluded, “I want to practice traditional medicine- where the patient receives individualized care and gets my full attention. Yet, I can use cutting-edge technologies to treat all their spinal conditions.” Laurence E. Kelly states, “With Dr. Shen’s arrival, we now say, ‘Spines everywhere can rejoice’”.The hospital plans several outreach activities in the coming months. Patients who are experiencing spine problems are encouraged to contact his office at 773-4242. Further information can also be found at www.nlh.org.
Wellness Words July 2011 Posted on July 14, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Ryan Wille, B.S.Community Health Educator THE NEW FOOD PLATE In June of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the creation of MyPlate. MyPlate will replace the food pyramid, which provided the guidelines for a healthy diet for the past 20 years. Many people found the food pyramid hard to understand and the USDA felt it was time for a change.MyPlate has four colored sections representing fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins.Next to the plate is a smaller circle representing dairy products.The USDA believes that the new design is much simpler and will assist people in adapting healthy eating habits.More information on MyPlate can be found at ChooseMyPlate.gov The USDA has also provided the following 10 Tips To A Great Plate.1. Balance Calories: The first step in managing your weight is to understand how many calories you need in a day. ChooseMyPlate.gov can assist people in determining calorie goals. Physical activity also helps to balance calories.2. Enjoy Your Food, But Eat Less: Take the time to fully enjoy your food. Eating too fast may lead to consuming too many calories. Pay attention to hunger cues before, during and after meals.3. Avoid Oversized Portions: Portion out foods before you eat. Use smaller plates, bowls and glasses.4. Foods To Eat More Often: Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. These foods have the necessary nutrients for a healthy diet and should be the basis for meals and snacks.5. Make Half Of Your Plate Fruits & Vegetables: Choose red, orange, and dark-green vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, along with other vegetables. Add fruit to meals as part of main dishes, side dishes or desserts.6. Switch To Fat-Free Or Low-Fat (1%) Milk: These products have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but fewer calories and less saturated fat.7. Make Half Of Your Grains Whole Grains: To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product. For example, eating whole-grain bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice.8. Foods To Eat Less Often: Cut back on foods that are high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt. This includes cakes, cookies, ice cream, candies, sweetened drinks, pizza and fatty meals like ribs, sausages, bacon, and hot dogs. Use these foods as occasional treats, not everyday foods.9. Compare Sodium In Foods: Use the Nutrition Facts labels to choose lower sodium versions of foods like soup, bread and frozen meals. Select canned foods labeled “low sodium,” “reduced sodium,” or “no salt added.”10. Drink Water Instead Of Sugary Drinks: Cut calories by drinking water or unsweetened drinks. Soda, energy drinks and sports drinks contain added sugars and calories. For more information, contact your health care provider, Littauer’s Outpatient Nutritional Counseling at 773-5413, or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at www.nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Littauer secures new technology for ambulance services Posted on July 14, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeLittauer secures new technology for ambulance servicesNathan Littauer Hospital was recently awarded a grant from the Dominic Ferraioli Foundation to purchase wireless technology/modems for our Fulton County ambulances. This technology will allow real time cardiac data to be streamed into our Emergency Care Center where doctors will analyze the data and begin the patient’s care plan. Of all medical conditions reported in Fulton County, cardiac, stroke and respiratory-related are among the highest so this technology will save time and save lives in our area.
HOSPITAL WELCOMES DR. PAUL HUSSON Posted on July 14, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota Pike Dr. Paul Husson joins the medical team at LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital announced today the appointment of Paul J. Husson Jr, MD to their medical staff. Dr. Husson is a Urologist and recently completed his residency at Albany Medical Center. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Husson join our team. He is highly-regarded in the medical community at Albany Medical Center,” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO. “We are very proud to introduce him to our patients.”With Dr. Husson’s specialized training, the hospital will be offering a new cutting edge procedure, Laparoscopic Kidney Surgery. The surgery uses small incisions resulting in shorter recovery times. As a member of the American Urologic Association, Dr. Husson will be able to offer surgical and medical solutions to a host of urological issues, including: kidney stones, urinary tract infections, incontinence and screenings for prostrate, bladder and kidney cancers.According to the American Urological Association (AUA), 30 million individuals live with urological issues in the US, greatly affecting their quality of life and overall lifespan.Dr. Husson, an Albany native, is pleased to be practicing at Nathan Littauer explaining, “I like being in a setting that allows me to work closely with people. Working at Nathan Littauer Hospital will give me the opportunity to connect with my patients. I do not want people to feel like a number.” He concluded, “Working in Fulton County really excites me.”Dr. Husson will be seeing patients out of the Gloversville Primary Care Center. To schedule an appointment patients are urged to call: 775-4133.
