Littauer raises awareness during “Donate Life” Month

Littauer raises awareness during “Donate Life” Month

Flag raised to salute donors

Littauer honors organ donation

Gloversville, NY…In recognition of National Donate Life Month and the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation, Nathan Littauer Hospital will fly the Donate Life Flag during the month of April. Nathan Littauer Hospital is currently partnering with the Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) in the Donate Life Flag Remembrance Program, which honors patients and their families that choose to give the gift of life. In addition to flying the flag during Donate Life Month, a flag is flown following every organ and tissue donation case at the hospital and given to the donor’s family in honor of their loved one.

Today, over 106,000 men, women and children are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant including over 9,500 New Yorkers. Over 28,000 organ transplants were performed in 2009. However, the need is still much greater than the number of organs available for transplant, with an average of 18 Americans dying every day due to the shortage of donor organs. Many people do not realize that one organ and tissue donor can help save or enhance up to 50 lives.

“The most important step in deciding to become a donor is to share your wishes with your family” stated Cheryl McGrattan, spokesperson for the hospital. New Yorkers can document their decision to be an organ and tissue donor by joining the New York State Donate Life Registry available online at www.donatelifecdt.com.

Organ donation is encouraged at Littauer

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The Center for Donation & Transplant is the federally designated non-profit organization that coordinates the retrieval of donated organs and tissues at 43 hospitals throughout western Vermont and northeastern New York State.

Littauer announces Employee of the Year!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Littauer’s Employee of the Year!

Gloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer Hospital announced the Employee of the Year earlier this month at the Goodwill Committee’s annual celebration. The winner, Kelly Viscosi a Physician Assistant, was awarded the top honor. “She truly has created an environment of care for her coworkers and patients.” stated Hospital Spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan.

Kelly Viscosi, RPAC (Registered Physician Assistant, Certified) works at Nathan Littauer’s Primary and Specialty Care Center in Mayfield. She has been working at Littauer for almost 15 years. With a specialty in internal medicine she is passionate about providing excellent patient care. She explained, “I want my patients to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, which is why I am such an advocate of preventative medicine.” An avid outdoorswoman from Duchess County, she studied medicine at Albany Medical Center.

Honorable Mention for the Employee of the Year went to Kathy Kraft, Vicky Edict, and Rose Bushnell. The “Employee of the Year” is a function of the Nathan Littauer’s Goodwill Committee which promotes employees who embody the Hospital’s mission. The committee recognizes an employee per quarter and announces an Employee of the Year. With 950 employees the hospital receives many nominations every year. “The standard is set very high.” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO at the celebration. Adding, “This is the person we put on the pedestal.” Kelly received gift certificates totaling $350. She also will receive a pizza party for her department, a photograph on the Hospital’s Hall of Fame, and literally a red carpet rolled out for her when she arrives to work on April 19, 2010.

When her name was announced she was quite surprised. “I was speechless and so surprised by the award.” stated Kelly. And the honor is well deserved. Nominated by several people, here are just some of the accolades for Kelly:

  • Goes above and beyond for her patients
  • Always gives people the time they need
  • Genuinely cares for those around her
  • The best advocate we have for promoting positive patient care at Nathan Littauer
  • A great mentor
  • She never complains
  • Passionate and Knowledgeable
  • A dedicated, extremely hardworking health care professional who combines her job with a sincere caring
  • Her patients absolutely adore her!

Kelly responded to the award by saying, “I am very honored and feel privileged to receive this. I love my job, co-workers and my patients. I thank everyone for their kind words and hope I can continue to have such wonderful relationships. “

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Nathan Littauer Hospital cited as “one of the most progressive facilities” for energy conservation!

Audit regards Nathan Littauer as a benchmark for the entire industry

Gloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home recently received results of an audit conducted by PRES Energy LLC, which was formally presented to the New York Power Authority. “The results are dramatic.” stated Dave Bruhns, Director of Engineering for Littauer. PRES Energy was engaged by the New York Power Authority and the New York State Governor’s Office to perform energy audits for a representative sample of its business customers. The audit, conducted January 6, 2010, determines cost-effective measures that could be implemented to reduce energy costs and to improve the efficiency of buildings. The results of the audit were announced to Nathan Littauer’s management team today.

The report concludes that Nathan Littauer’s energy maintenance efforts are a benchmark for the health care industry. Laurence E. Kelly Littauer’s President and CEO explains, “Everyday Nathan Littauer strives to care for our patients while reducing our carbon footprint.” He added, “We want to be a good “green” neighbor, not for accolades but because it is intrinsically good for our area. That said, it is certainly exciting to be lauded as an industry leader.”

The thorough audit examined the HVAC system, the heating and cooling systems, the building energy management control systems, electrical distribution and lighting systems and a host of other systems utilized at the hospital. The report concludes by saying:

“The Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is one of the most progressive facilities in regards to the management of gas and electricity. The staff at this hospital has been very forward thinking in its implementation of new projects with respect to future energy saving. Many hospitals in the country have neglected their infrastructure and subsequent energy management which has resulted in higher health acre cost. Nathan Littauer is a benchmark for the industry for its innovative approach to all aspects of managing its resources and waste.”

Littauer’s engineering team plays a key role in our green efforts

Dave Bruhns, Director of Engineering for Littauer reflects, “Our goal is to provide an Environment of Care in support of the hospital’s mission. Being flexible in our approach to projects and day-to-day operations allows us to take advantage of circumstances and opportunities when they arise. The findings of this survey are the measurable results of our efforts.” He concluded, “We have found that by sharing the positive results with staff, we obtain valuable buy-in, and some good ideas for further improvement”.

Congratulations to the people at Nathan Littauer for creating a bold vision and then following through with the hard work necessary to become an industry leader in energy efficiency,” said Congressman Paul Tonko. “This kind of effort provides for a better outcome by cutting the use of energy, saving dollars, reducing the costs of health care, and improving the surrounding community. Nathan Littauer has created an example of what can be accomplished through energy efficiency that will be a model for other hospitals to follow.”

The report also summarizes the hospital’s Environmental Impact. The energy savings realized by Littauer in one year is equivalent to:

  • removing 1 car from the road
  • planting 2 acres of trees
  • conserving 12 barrels of crude oil
  • conserving 2 tons of coal.

In April of 2009, Littauer embarked on a hospital-wide green effort in an effort to reduce energy use and waste at Littauer. Congressman Tonko came to the hospital to see first hand the hospital’s energy reducing efforts. “We are obviously doing the right things.” stated Mr. Kelly, adding “But we are not done yet.”

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Nathan Littauer’s Family of Health Services in Gloversville, NY serves Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery counties in Upstate New York with a 74- bed regional hospital, eight primary and specialty care centers and an 84-bed nursing home. The hospital opened in 1894 and currently employs 950 people. The hospital recently opened a new state-of-the-art Birthing Center. To learn more about Nathan Littauer, please visit www.nlh.org.

The engineering team at Littauer is a key factor in the hospital’s green efforts.

THE EVENT Date is Set!

THE EVENT will be May 21, 2010

The date is set.

May 21, 2010

Get ready to be amazed.

The Nathan Littauer Foundation announced today the date for their annual gala, THE EVENT. The event will be held May 21, 2010. This year’s theme will be a “Journey along the Nile” and will be held under a suradq (a tent). THE EVENT is the Foundation’s annual fundraiser in support of Nathan Littauer Hospital. THE EVENT was recently listed in the Capital District Business Review’s Book of Lists as one of the area’s most successful fundraisers.

“Year after year, this event earns the highest praise as a great cause coupled with a lot of fun. This year will be no exception, as our guests will be treated to visual intrigue, amazing food and a lot of surprises.” stated Kelly Colby Development Coordinator,and event organizer. She added, “Get ready!”

To learn more about THE EVENT, to become a sponsor or to purchase tickets please call Kelly at 773-5505. For updates, please bookmark this page.

News team films ground-breaking surgery at LITTAUER!

Dr. Paddock performs new surgery for the news

A news team from WNYT Channel 13 came to Littauer to film the ground-breaking procedure Dr. Bradley Paddock is performing at Littauer. The surgery is a new approach to treating sinus problems. Balloon Sinuplasty uses new technology which is safer and patients report a quicker recovery time than conventional sinus surgery.

Benita Zahn, Health Reporter for WNYT and her crew interviewed the patient and filmed the surgery. She was also “tweeting” pictures while the surgery was being performed. Thanks to Dr. Paddock, the staff and our willing patient.

Watch the full feature here:

To see photos of the event click here:

The patient reports that she is feeling “great” and her recovery is much better than her last sinus surgery. If you would like to contact Dr. Paddock for a referral please call 725-8656.