Nathan Littauer obstetrics practices sets a national standard Posted on May 25, 2012September 25, 2012 by Dakota PikeApproach to labor care is deemed “particularly meritorious” by national medical group Gloversville, NY — Nathan Littauer Hospital was recently informed that its clinical approach to augment labor has been published in an American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) publication. The clinical method Littauer uses with the labor enhancing drug Oxytocin was selected as one of three national standards for other health care organizations to follow. “This is an amazing endorsement of the high-level of care we administer in our Birthing Center.” said Ginger Mulligan, Vice President of Nursing. Littauer’s Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Patricia Nguyen made the submission explaining, “Our clinical approach to the birthing process is very well thought out- with a foundation centered in safety and comfort.” She added, “As a clinician, I felt was worth sharing.” Dr. Nguyen continued, “Our entire team is focused upon patient safety. And I think it is that collaborative approach at Littauer that yields results.”ACOG asked hospitals to submit their protocols for using the drug oxytocin- a labor enhancing medicine used in the birthing process. In all, the organization received 23 submissions and selected three for their publication, “Optimizing Protocols in Obstetrics”. The prestigious clinical document explains, “Although many were well written and met the needs of their institution, three protocols were particularly meritorious. We are submitting these documents as examples that any hospital may want to consider for their own use.” They added, “The Committee has chosen and enclosed the oxytocin protocols from Community General Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Nathan Littauer Hospital.”ACOG has over 55,000 members and is the nation’s leading group of professionals providing health care for women. It is a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization. The Birthing Center’s Manager, Kelly Hartz explained, “This organization strives to maintain the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education for its members. To see our name printed as a standard of care is thrilling for our staff and especially our obstetrics team.” She concluded, “The organization has a stellar reputation.” To read the full document and Littauer’s special approach to the labor process readers are encouraged to visit: http://mail.ny.acog.org/website/OxytocinForInduction.pdf.Nathan Littauer’s The Birthing Center sets a national standard in clinical protocols
Nathan Littauer Hospital Adds MRI to Second Location in Perth Posted on May 25, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeConvenient Saturday Hours Offered Perth, NYCloser to you, when you need it….For patient convenience and comfort, Nathan Littauer Hospital has expanded MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) services to its Perth location. The hospital began offering MRI services recently at their Primary/Specialty Care Center located in Perth at 4104 State Highway 30 in Perth across from the Perthshire. The center is offering Saturday MRI service every other Saturday at the location with their Open Bore MRI technology.This technology offers patients a larger exam area and faster scans times features which are especially helpful for those people who are claustrophobic.“We are pleased to expand our services into Perth. We believe our patients will like the greater convenience of Saturday appointments.” explained Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO. He added, “In our first week we had more exams scheduled than we anticipated for the location.”MRI technology helps doctors take highly-defined images of the body’s interior organs and tissues. The equipment uses a strong magnet combined with radio waves pulses to take images inside the body. It is particularly useful for imaging the spine, as well as the soft tissues of joints and the interior structure of bones.Also, with the hospital’s integrated Electronic Medical Records System, the patient imaging records can be quickly read and interpreted for the prescribing physician to see. The MRI at Nathan Littauer‘s Perth Primary Care Center is the second location available to patients in the region. The hospital will continue to offer MRI services at its campus.For more information about MRI outpatient diagnostic radiology services, please visit www.radiologyrevolution.com. To schedule an exam, people are encouraged to speak to their health care provider.
Meet Michael our Employee of the YEAR! Posted on May 25, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeMichael Nickerson has a “Heart of Gold”Michael Nickerson is our Employee of the Year!Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home recently awarded their Employee of the Year to Mr. Michael Nickerson. Mr. Nickerson is a Licensed Practical Nurse II, (LPN2) at the Nathan Littauer Nursing Home, a position he has held since 2002.Mr. Nickerson’s name was announced during an agency-wide celebration by the Hospital’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly. His coworkers, many who made the nominations, explained he “Has a heart of gold” and he “is an excellent role model”. One employee stated that Michael is “A rare gem that shines brightly”.Mr. Nickerson said thank you to the crowd that had gathered, which included his mother. Mr. Nickerson has explained, “For me this job means everything.” He also added, “I consider everyone I work with family”.“Nathan Littauer Hospital currently has about 980 employees. Therefore, this is definitely a prestigious award.” said Cheryl McGrattan Hospital spokesperson. Adding, “He is a person who seems to genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. And we frequently get compliments about his excellent clinical skills.” Mr. Kelly has described Michael as “Exemplifying the true meaning of caring and compassion.”Michael is a deserving award winner. As Employee of the Year Michael receives gift certificates and preferred parking and his picture will appear on Littauer’s Hall of Fame. The Employee of the Year is a function of the Hospital’s Goodwill Committee a multi-disciplinary team that strives to recognize employees within the hospital who embody Nathan Littauer’s original mission.
Celebrating the Journey Posted on May 11, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Nursing Home is getting ready for a week long celebration honoring National Nursing Home Week. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Journey” and is part of the National Nursing Home Week started by The American Health Care Association (AHCA). “We are so proud of the work we do here everyday.” said Leslie Beadle, Vice President and Nursing Home Administrator. “Therefore, we are thrilled to celebrate our nursing home, our wonderful residents and our committed staff.”Nathan Littauer’s Nursing Home will be joining nursing and rehabilitation facilities nationwide, beginning Mother’s Day, May 13, and continuing through May 19, 2012. This year’s theme was selected to honor those who are “Celebrating the Journey” by serving others, thus adding value to life and helping to overcome many of the infirmities of age and disability. “We want to celebrate those people that make a positive contribution every day. We are also saluting our staff.” Explained Rachel Johnson, Littauer’s Recreational Director. She is heading up the festivities at Littauer. She explains, “We have something planned every day to mark the occasion.”For Nursing Home Week, Nathan Littauer is announcing the following activities the week of May 13, 2012:Sunday, May 13- In honor of Mother’s Day Nursing Home staff will be passing out corsages to all the ladies and hosting a Tea at 2:15 with a violin player.Monday, May 14– The Nursing Home will be hosting Jackpot Bingo from 2:15-3:15pm for residents.Tuesday, May 15- The Nursing Home will host a Squish Squash Show at 2:15.Wednesday, May 16- The Nursing Home will host a patio cocktail party at 2:15 pm. The Nursing Home will be throwing a “Cruise Ship Dinner Buffet from 6-8 pm with a band and cocktail attire with entertainment.Thursday, May 17- The Nursing Home will be hosting the “The Ody Show” for the residents from 2:15-3:15 pm. At 6:30 there will be Smore’s by the campfire.Friday, May 13– 6:30 Line dancing demonstration.Saturday, May 14- 10:30 Cruise Games and at 2:15 a baking class will be held.Nathan Littauer Nursing Home is an 84-bed skilled nursing facility providing short and long-term rehabilitation for people of all ages. They are tireless advocates for quality care and services recognizing each person’s individuality. The Nursing Home’s compassionate and caring employees provide essential care to people in our area. Along with a long-term residence, the center has been instrumental in helping hundreds of people return to their homes through careful rehabilitation. The Nursing Home opened in 1972 and has been recognized by the State for their excellence in care. The Nursing Home currently employs approximately 115 people.
Wellness Words May 2012 Posted on May 8, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Ryan Wille, B.S.Community Health Educator TICK AWARENESSTicks are small spider like animals that bite to fasten themselves onto the skin and feed on blood. They live in the fur and feathers of many birds and animals. Tick bites occur most often during the early spring to late summer months in areas with high wild animal populations.Most ticks do not carry diseases and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems. Your risk of developing disease is greatly reduced if the tick is removed within 36 hours. However, some tick-borne diseases include:Lyme DiseaseRocky Mountain Spotted FeverTularemiaEhrlichiosisRelapsing FeverColorado Tick FeverBabesiosis Effective prevention and treatment of tick bites is the best way to avoid these diseases. There are several preventative steps that you can take to avoid tick bites. These include:Apply an insect repellent. Use the repellents according to the directions on the label, especially when applying repellent to children.Cover as much of your skin as possible when working or playing in grassy or wooded areas. Wear hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants with the legs tucked into your socks. If you think you may have a tick on your clothing, put it in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes to kill the tick.Wear gloves when you handle animals or work in the woods.Take steps to control ticks on your property. Clearing leaves, brush, tall grasses, woodpiles, and stone fences from around your house and the edges of your yard or garden. Remove plants that attract deer and use barriers to keep deer, and the deer ticks they may carry, out of your yard. Also, check your pets for ticks after they have been outside.Stay away from tick-infested areas. If you have been bitten by a tick, the sooner the tick is removed, the less likely they are to spread disease.Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick. If you don’t have tweezers, put on gloves or cover hands with tissue paper, then use your fingers. Do not handle the tick with bare hands. Grab the tick as close to its mouth as possible, the body will be above the skin. Don’t grab the tick around its bloated belly because you might push infected fluid from the tick into your body. Pull the tick straight out until its mouth lets go of your skin.Don’t try to burn the tick while it is attached to your skin.Put the tick in a sealed container and save it in the freezer for later identification if necessary.Wash the tick bite area with warm water and soap. Wash your hands after removing the tick. Watch for these symptoms after a tick bite and if any occur, contact your healthcare provider:Flu-like symptoms developA rash or sore developsSymptoms of a skin infection developSymptoms become more severe or more frequent For more information, attend a free “Tick” Town Hall Meeting on May 14 at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to keep yourself, your family, and your pets disease-free this season from a health care panel including Dr. Thomas N. Mather Ph.D., the world’s leading tick and Lyme Disease expert from the University of Rhode Island. To attend, call Littauer at 773-5533 or e-mail tick@nlh.org.
