Visitation Rules Posted on November 15, 2009August 22, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital has formalized a visitation policy for the hospital aimed at protecting the health of their patients and employees. Therefore the following new policies are now being enforced at the hospital:Visitors are asked to use the main entrance.Visitors under the age of 12 are prohibited.Those with fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea or any other symptoms of acute illness within the prior 24 hours must not come as a visitor.No more than two visitors are allowed per patient room.If a staff member asks you to wear a mask, it should be worn covering the mouth and nose whenever in the hospital.Hand washing or the use of waterless hand cleanser is expected whenever entering or leaving a patient’s room.For added protection, masks are available for all visitors, even those who are healthy.Dr. Todd Duthaler, Littauer’s Chief of Emergency Medicine notes, “Please realize that our primary responsibility is to provide quality medical care and we feel that these regulations are in the best interest of our patients.”
More Information About Swine Flu Posted on November 15, 2009 by Dakota PikeMore flu resources:Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is committed to providing you with the information you need for 2009/2010 flu season. We now have a new section on our website specifically to share information that will help keep you and your family healthy this flu season.Please contact Littauer’s Flu Resource Line:518-773-5399What Everyone Should Know About H1N1(Source: New York State Department of Health)What are the symptoms of the H1N1 virus? The flu usually starts suddenly and may include these symptoms: fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, may occur in children but are rare in adults.Are some people at higher risk for complications than others from getting the flu? Yes. People at high risk for serious flu complications include older people, young children, and people of any age with certain health conditions.What are the complications associated with the H1N1 virus? Some of the complications caused by flu include pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.What is the difference between a cold and the flu? The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests can be carried out, when needed, to tell if a person has the flu; these tests usually must be done within the first few days of illness.What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold? In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds tend to develop gradually, while the flu tends to start very suddenly. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.What should I do if I’m experiencing flu like symptoms? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) it is important for anyone with flu like symptoms to do the following:RestDrink fluidsTake fever reducers (i.e., Tylenol, Motrin)Contact your primary care provider as soon as possible if you are pregnant or have chronic medical conditions that could put you at risk for complications from influenza or if your symptoms worsen.Additional ResourcesFact SheetsWho should receive the seasonal flu shot?What do I need to know about the H1N1 vaccine?In addition to being vaccinated, what can I do to prevent the spread of flu?Resources and Links CDC NYS Department of Health Flu.gov
Update about H1N1 Posted on November 15, 2009 by Dakota PikeLast updated Tuesday, November 3, 2009At Littauer, we understand your concerns about the limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine. The production of H1N1 vaccines has encountered manufacturing delays on a national basis. However, we are closely monitoring notices of availability of the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines. Recently, our primary care centers have been notified that:The NYS Department of Health told hospitals last week that we will likely receive only 1 dose of the vaccine for every 20 doses we requested.The shortage means that Littauer’s Primary Care sites will likely receive a limited supply in three to four weeks for its established patients.At this point, we do not anticipate receiving our full order of the H1N1 flu vaccine in the coming weeks.Obviously, we cannot vaccinate everyone who would like the H1N1 vaccine. We are strictly following the recommendations outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, we are obligated to vaccinate our established patients in the following order:Pregnant women;Children and young people ages 6 months through 24 years (infants under 6 months cannot be vaccinated);People who live with or provide care for infants under six months of age;People ages 25-64 years old who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications (including cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders, and weakened immune systems); andHealth care workers and emergency medical services personnel who have direct patient contact.However, when we do receive supply of we will take the following steps:Established patients of Nathan Littauer’s Primary Care Network who fall within the priority groups recommended by the CDC will receive the vaccine first.Our Primary Care Network will be contacting those patients who are on waiting lists and are considered high-risk patients to arrange for the vaccination.Many of our primary care offices have extensive waiting lists of high priority patients and many vaccines are already spoken for.If you are not an established Littauer primary care patient please contact your physician or county health department.
LITTAUER RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR CT SCANNING Posted on November 14, 2009 by Dakota PikeLittauer earns ACR accreditationLITTAUER RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR CT SCANNING Three-year accreditation awarded by American College of RadiologyGloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer Hospital has been awarded the prestigious CT Scanning accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The accreditation is awarded for a three-year term and is a result of a strenuous survey.“Not only is this great news for our hospital”, stated Wayne McNeil, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, “it is a boon for our area.” The ACR headquartered in Reston, VA., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. The evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists and nuclear medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.Mr. Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s President and CEO notes, “We have made significant investment in our diagnostic equipment, bringing the latest technology to our patients. Therefore, it is more than gratifying to receive this accreditation.”The hospital’s diagnostic unit has also earned accreditation from the American College of Radiology in MRI and Mammograms.
