Nathan Littauer announcing new visitation rules in response to influenza Posted on January 11, 2013January 11, 2013 by Dakota PikeGloversville, NY…- Nathan Littauer Hospital, is announcing new rules for anyone visiting in-patients in the hospital. This is part of an inter-departmental effort to thwart the spread of the flu. Terri Intilli Klausner, MS, FNP-BC and Infection Control Preventionist who works for Nathan Littauer as their Manager of Infection Control and Employee Health states, “Like other hospitals in the region during this time of high risk and in order to protect our patients from flu and other infectious diseases, we have implemented new visitation restrictions.”Those restrictions include:No children 12 years or youngerNo visitors with respiratory symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath, rash or diarrheaOnly 2 visitors will be permitted per patient in a room at one timeCheryl McGrattan, spokesperson for the hospital notes, “It is important to note that these rules are in effect for anyone visiting our hospital hoping to see a patient in one of our in-patient rooms. It does not pertain to anyone who requires outpatient services like an x-ray or laboratory tests.” She added, “Our top priority is to protect our patients while also serving as a community health advocate to contain this flu outbreak.”
Nathan Littauer welcomes new Chief Financial Officer Posted on January 11, 2013January 24, 2013 by Dakota PikeMichael D. Ostrander joins the Littauer TeamMichael D. Ostrander joins senior leadership teamNathan Littauer is pleased to welcome a new member to its senior leadership team. Michael D. Ostrander has assumed the Chief Financial Officer position, a position which has been vacated by the retiring Henry Legendziewicz. “We are pleased to have someone of his caliber join our team” said the soon-to-be departing Mr. Legendziewicz. “He has a history of implementing new systems throughout the hospitals he previously worked at that streamlined operations.”Michael Ostrander joins Littauer from Glens Falls Hospital where he served as the senior Director of Finance. There he was responsible for the leadership of several departments including material management, distribution, accounting and decision support. He previously worked at Ellis Hospital as their Director of Financial Planning. “Obviously his background in healthcare financial management is stellar.” stated Mr. Legendziewicz. The two leaders will be working together for about one month during the transition. The hospital bids goodbye to Henry Legendziewicz who worked at Nathan Littauer for over 34 years.Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO stated, “This is an exciting time at Littauer.We are growing despite the delicate financial landscape we maneuver through on a routine basis.” Mr. Kelly continued, “With diminishing State and Federal reimbursements, we need someone who can help us grow in an organized way – consistent with our strategic plan. We believe we have found that person in Michael.”Laurence E. Kelly (right) and Michael D. Ostrander review the hospital’s strategic plan.Mr. Ostrander states he is excited about the opportunity at Littauer saying, “I look forward to working with our team to continue the tradition of financial health and serving the patients of Fulton County.”“Mr. Ostrander will carry on the financial stewardship role for NLH from someone who is recognized in Upstate New York as one of the most astute CFO’s in the Healthcare Industry. Henry Legendziewicz has helped NLH successfully navigate momentous change in the hospital field. NLH has operated with a positive operating bottom line for eleven years in a row in a large part due to Henry’s financial expertise and guidance. I wish he could work forever, but he certainly deserves to enjoy a long retirement knowing the results of his hard work will continue on.” said Mr. Kelly.“I have said it many times. Patient care is our top priority.” Mr. Kelly explained, “We believe that a sound financial plan intimately benefits the patient, especially in a small not-for-profit hospital like Littauer. Many hospitals operate like the two are separated. We do not.” Even as a Hospital CFO, Mr. Ostrander will be expected to have direct patient contact, as the senior leadership of the hospital regularly conducts “rounds” with patients to monitor patient satisfaction.
Wellness Words January 2013 Posted on January 8, 2013February 28, 2013 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BSCommunity Health Educator Resolve To Drive Less To Lose Weight!For many people, the New Year brings new goals for positive changes in their lives. Weight loss through diet and exercise tops many lists. But too often these goals are too broad with many changes to be made at once. Resolutions don’t have to be such daunting challenges. Remember the KISS analogy – Keep It Simple Seniors.For example, if weight loss is your goal, making another vow – to drive less – can help. It is as simple as that, according to a new study by theUniversityofIllinois. And for an added bonus, driving less can help the environment by reducing fuel consumption and emissions.Obesity isn’t just a one dimensional issue. It is also societal. The good news is there are changes that we can make as individuals that will help not only ourselves but can lead to more positive social changes. Driving less (replaced by more physical activity) even if it is only one mile less automobile travel each day, leads to a lot less fuel consumption. One environmental expert recently pointed out that “It’s a positive step regardless of the motivation behind it.”According to Samantha Heller, Clinical Nutritionist at Derby Hospital in Connecticut, “If you’re making healthy changes like driving less – whether it is to lose weight or because you want to go green and save fuel, your body doesn’t care why you are doing it. You will still reap the benefits.”The average BMI, a measure of a person’s body mass, has increased in the last two decades. Previous research at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that obesity in theUSAhas created a $42 billion rise in health care costs as well as created fuel consumption of at least 1 billion additional gallons of fuel.If we each decide to drive one less mile a day and to eat 100 less calories, the effect on national obesity and fuel consumption levels would make significant improvement in our own as well as our society’s health and well being, according to Sheldon Jacobson of the University of Illinois. And we are talking about saving billions of dollars.If you are wondering at this point how you are going to make this doable, the experts have some simple solutions. One suggestion is simply to park further away from wherever you are going and walking more to get there instead of riding around parking lots waiting for the closest parking spots.Additionally, if we also eat 100 calories less a day, which dieticians tell us is as simple as eating one less banana or a couple less small cookies, it will make us lose weight even faster. Small changes can add up fast.Focusing on simple actions that cut a few daily calories and/or help you to exercise more than usual, will help you accomplish your goals without a lot of effort, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine. Good luck with your 2013 resolutions!For more information, contact your healthcare 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.
NATHAN LITTAUER HOSPITAL HONORED IN 2013 TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE Posted on January 8, 2013January 8, 2013 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer played a role in The Donate Life Rose Bowl Parade FloatNathan Littauer Hospital was recognized with a rose on the Donate Life Float in the 124th annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Nathan Littauer partners with the Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) to facilitate life-saving organ and tissue donation. CDT is sponsoring a rose on the Donate Life float in honor of the donors from Nathan Littauer Hospital. The rose also recognizes Littauer’s for its support of donors and their families through the Donate Life Flag Program. In 2013, a flag will be flown at the hospital following every organ and tissue donation case, which will then be given to the donors’ families in honor of their loved one.Today, over 117,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant; this statistic includes just over 10,000 New Yorkers. Over 28,000 organ transplants were performed in 2011; however, the demand is still much greater than the supply, with an average of 17 Americans dying every day due to the shortage of donor organs.New Yorkers can register to be an organ and tissue donor by joining the New York State Donate Life Registry available online atLittauer honors organ donation. When a donation is made we raise a “Donate Life Flag”www.donatelifecdt.org.The Center for Donation & Transplant is the federally designated non-profit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation at 43 hospitals throughout western Vermont and northeastern New York State.
Nathan Littauer Earns ACR Accreditation Posted on January 7, 2013 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography (CT) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). CT scanning — sometimes called CAT scanning — is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and tailor treatments for various medical conditions. Dr. McBiles, Chief of Radiology for Littauer states, “This accreditation illustrates our commitment to the highest standard of care during the Diagnostic Imaging process.” He added, “I am very proud our team reached this goal.”Nathan Littauer has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography (CT) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement. The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
