Littauer plans more growth Posted on May 29, 2009 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer plans $3.1M ER renovation; fed funding possibleBy Barbara Pinckney, special for for the Business Review (Albany)First published in print Friday, May 29, 2009Nathan Littauer Hospital is moving forward with plans to upgrade and expand its 26-year-old emergency department—possibly with federal help. The Gloversville hospital filed a certificate of need application with the state Health Department earlier this month seeking approval for the $3.1 million plan.At about the same time, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Charles Schumer introduced appropriations bills in their respective houses seeking $1 million to help finance the project. Laurence Kelly, CEO of Nathan Littauer, said the project does not hinge on the federal funding—the hospital recently completed a $4 million capital campaign—but “it would be nice.”The plan calls for the ER to be renovated and enlarged, from 5,000 square feet to about 10,000 square feet. Kelly said the department sees about 25,000 people a year, and was built in 1983 “for probably half that.” The department has 13 patient rooms. This will be increased to 17, but some of the rooms will be large enough to accommodate two patients if necessary. Kelly said this should allow all patients to move to a room immediately after being triaged.The patient rooms will be equipped with televisions to ease the wait. The project also includes a new nurses’ station with four times the space as the current, “really congested,” station. The computer system already has been upgraded and medical records are electronic.Nathan Littauer, which has about $50 million in assets, had net income of about $2.1 million on revenue of $78 million in 2008. That represents an operating margin of 2.8 percent.
Nathan Littauer’s Green Efforts Appluaded Posted on April 16, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeLittauer strives to care for mother earth, too.Dyana Perez reportingCapital News 9First aired April 16, 2009GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. — “We’re constantly thinking green all the time. Every time we change a process, every time we evaluate a new piece of equipment” said David Bruhns, Director of Engineering.Here at Nathan Litteaur Hospital, it’s all about being ecofriendly. Over the years, the facility has come up with simple and creative ways to stay green.“One of the initiatives is actually in the cafeteria. We’ve started actually selling the cups from the register rather than allowing our customers to take them. That’s reduced our usage per week from eight cases of foam cups per week, which is equal to 8,000 cups and reduced it almost in half,” said Timothy Forte.And hospital officials say switching from old-fashioned cord mops to micro-fiber mops has saved thousands of gallons of water. “You are not re-dipping your mop. Like the old mops, we had to re dip them and the water got dirty .We have saved by switching 24,000 gallons a year. Three pool sizes,” said Debrah Fountain.The hospital also uses a chemical free floor stripper, which is non-toxic and odor free. And in nutritional services, the facility has replaced equipment that uses less chemicals, energy and water.“One of the biggest highlights, I think, for energy savings, is our pot scrubber was using a full load of 95 amps with a booster heater and now the replacement we are using 29 amps with the new unit we put in place.” Forte said.Hospital engineers are also giving out tips on things you can do at home that can help cut your energy bill significantly.“Periodically do a cleaning of the condenser coil behind or under the refrigerator or freezer because. So have done some measurements and studies that if you clean three or four times a year, that we use six to eight percent less electricity,” Bruhns said.Hospital officials say these simple techniques can make a big difference in helping keep a safe environment.
Nathan Littauer fiscally strong Posted on April 10, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital remains financially strongNathan Littauer Hospital and Family of Healthcare Services in the Black for the 7th Straight YearApril 10, 2009GLOVERSVILLE, NY …Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home has finished fiscal year 2008 with a positive operating margin, marking the 7th straight year in the black.The hospital’s operating margin was 2.8% on revenues of $77.7 million. Hospital leaders presented the information to the Board of Directors recently. Because Littauer is nonprofit, positive finances are referred to as an operating margin rather than a profit. As a nonprofit institution, Littauer will use its operating margin to reinvest in facilities and equipment, ensuring the highest quality of care for its increasing patient population.Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s CEO and President stated, “These are challenging times for any healthcare organization. The sector has been wrought with fluctuation and chaos because of budget and reimbursement changes coupled with the plummeting stock market. However, with our strong vision and our financial leadership, we have managed the unpredictability successfully.” He added, “I do not know of any hospital in our region that has operated in the black during all of these seven years.”Mr. Kelly notes, “There is a strong correlation between a hospital’s fiscal strength and its ability to provide quality patient care. Improving quality of care requires continued investment in clinical technologies, computer systems, physical facilities and staff. Our positive financial results have allowed us to not only strengthen our balance sheet but also make the needed capital and operating investments to continue to be a great community hospital.”HANYS (Healthcare Association of New York State) President Daniel Sisto said: “Hospitals in every region of the state have been severely impacted by repeated state health care cuts over the last several years. For Nathan Littauer Hospital to come through such difficult times without sustaining an operating loss is a rare accomplishment.”“We are in a strong position fiscally, thanks to a team effort at Littauer. Every management meeting begins with in-depth analysis of our financial standing followed by a review of updated patient quality reports. Negotiating the financial landscape in the future will be challenging- particularly with the uncertainty of our economy and national health care policy.” said Henry Legendziewicz, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Littauer. He explained, “The Hospital’s projected state budget cuts will be just over $1 million. We had adjusted our 2009 budget in December to reflect these cuts.” Mr. Legendziewicz notes, “Agility is our strong suit.”Nathan Littauer’s family of healthcare services had 4,876 patient discharges and observation cases in the fiscal year 2008. The Hospital also saw 4,900 surgical cases, both inpatient and outpatient, in their operating rooms. Meanwhile, the eight primary care centers in Fulton County handled more than 92,000 patient visits.In the year ahead, Littauer will strive to increase capacity to meet the growing needs of patients. Littauer recently announced the renovation of their maternity unit. Other projects include an expanded and enhanced Emergency Department, slated for 2010. Both projects will be funded with cash. Mr. Kelly explained, “We have carved a niche for ourselves in securing cutting-edge technology and we will continue that trend. We are adding new surgical towers to our operating rooms, a technology which our surgeons are thrilled about.”“We have always been the hospital of choice for Fulton County and our fiscal strength will ensure the Littauer tradition will continue. Even with our financial strength our patient satisfaction numbers were very strong in 2008, in some areas exceeding 91%. In the year ahead we will increase our capacity while improving patient care, efficiency, and quality throughout the Hospital.” concluded Mr. Kelly.
