The Birthing Center at Littauer is OPEN! Posted on December 16, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeOur New Birthing Center at Littauer is a destination maternity center for any family. Unlike any in our region it combines, state of the art technology with a spa-like setting.Gloversville, NY…It took 13 tons of sheet rock, 1000 feet of oak trim, 1800 feet of wire, 50 gallons of paint, $1.2 million dollars, 3 miles of wire and 162 days to complete the New Birthing Center at Littauer. And the final results are dramatic. As Susan Kiernan, Vice President of Development likes to point out, “When you step into our New Birthing Center you would never guess you were in a hospital.” From the pendant lighting to the private whirlpool birthing suites, the Hospital is certain new families will be delighted with the results. Littauer will officially celebrate the Center’s opening with a slate of activities. The Hospital will host a ribbon cutting Tuesday, December 15th at 4:45 pm, and will show off the center to the public at 5:30 pm that same day. The Hospital will also be unveiling a donor wall at 5:35 pm featuring the donors who made the project and other improvements at the hospital possible. Patients will start using the unit later that week.“The Center is probably one of the most highly-anticipated projects we have ever launched.” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s President and CEO. He continued, “It started with a desire to replace our aging maternity unit with a state-of-the-art new center.” Leadership at the hospital traveled to a hospital in Colorado and toured their maternity center and emergency department in August of 2008. He explained, “We brought back a lot of ideas. Staff did a lot of research about what families were looking for in a birthing center. And when we set our goals and objectives for 2009, this project was at the top of our list.” He added, “It is more than gratifying to see it completed, and even surpassing our expectations.”Kim Colvin, Manager of Maternal Child Health, who has been heading up the project for Littauer agreed noting, “We really talked to our families. I poured over pictures of successful maternity centers and others read research about successful maternity centers. We found four common themes emerged. Families wanted: safety and services; luxury; privacy; and a sense of freedom. So in essence we built a center around that.” Ms. Colvin explained, “We agonized over every detail right down to the color, amenities and carpet pile. And I think that shows.” She added, “What we are delivering to the community on Tuesday is one of the best centers I have ever seen. It certainly will be an asset to our region.”The architect for the hospital project was David Souers of Optimus Architecture located in Kingston, New York. They created an Adirondack-inspired center for Littauer replete with oak trim, wood styled floors, granite hued ceramic tile accented with a palette of greens and golds and finished with wrought iron lighting.The new unit has been dubbed “The NEW Birthing Center at Nathan Littauer” and it now holds three labor and delivery rooms and 7 postpartum rooms. The Hospital also made improvements to their surgical room for mothers delivering by C-Section. The new unit boasts the following amenities in a spa-like setting: private rooms with private baths, hydrotherapy-whirlpool tubs, wireless internet service, birthing suites with overnight accommodations for partners, pregnancy and newborn education, 24/7 hour anesthesia, highest patient satisfaction scores, a flat screen TV in every room, kitchenette for families, interpreter services, family-centered care, expertly decorated rooms in a restful environment, soft lighting, sitting room/family lounge, take-out gourmet meals, lactation counselors and nurses trained in breastfeeding support, experienced and compassionate midwives and doctors, an education room, a secure nursery, and all attended to by nationally certified nurses.And the center will be opening just in time according to Mr. Kelly, “We are expecting a holiday baby.”To learn more about the New Birthing Center people are encouraged to visit the hospital’s website at www.nlh.org. Families hoping to deliver in the near future are encouraged to attend the hospital’s open house Tuesday at 5:30 pm or by arranging a tour by emailing the hospital at baby@nlh.org or by calling: 518-773-5494.
Moms delivering at Littauer get big send off Posted on December 9, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNicole Skiff looks through her gift bags moments before she leaves.Pampered gifts are well receivedWith the opening of the newly renovated maternity center quickly approaching, families who have been inconvenienced by the maternity construction have been given royal treatment by Littauer staff. Littauer has made sure that those mothers delivering during the transition phase do not feel slighted. “Each family has been given a bevy of very well-planned and thoughtful gifts.” stated Kimberly Colvin, Manager of Maternal Child Health. “We wanted to thank them for their patience as we rebuilt our maternity unit.” She added, “We had to relocate our maternity department during the construction phase. It was a huge undertaking.” “I would say on the whole, few families even noticed the difference.” stated Hospital spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan. She added, “The staff really went the extra mile to make the temporary maternity unit as comfortable as possible. I do know however, everyone is anxious to get into our new maternity unit.” The hospital moved the unit to the second floor in the pediatric area during the renovation phase.As a gesture of appreciation, families were given a new combination web, video and digital camera, a construction hat for the baby, chocolates and perhaps best of all, a meal to take home. When a family is ready for discharge, a culinary-trained chef arrives at their room with a complete meal to take home in an eco-friendly bag. For the occasion, the hospital chef Rick Wells created grilled chicken penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh bread and chocolate truffles. The meals come with an ingredient list and also reheating instructions. Ms. Colvin notes, “The meals were such a huge hit I think we are going to continue it even after our grand opening.”Kim Colvin explained, “When we researched the best gifts for mothers, time-and-time again, they said that getting a meal from a neighbor or family member was the best gift of all. And I thought, ‘Well, we have always thought of our hospital as neighborly’ and the idea was born.” The nurses state that mothers are thrilled. Ms. Colvin notes, “It also gives me a certain sense of relief knowing that a good meal is going home with these very nervous and exhausted families.” She concluded, “I do not know of any other hospital in the region that does this.”And Nicole Skiff would agree. She delivered her baby at Littauer during the renovation phase and she was more than happy to receive the gifts. But according to Nicole Skiff it was the meal that was most meaningful. She explained, “I was thinking, ‘what can I do for dinner tonight?’ and here it is!”With the renovation phase almost done, Littauer’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly announced last night at a Hospital event, “I am sure we will have a baby in our new maternity unit before Christmas!” Announcements about the grand opening are expected shortly. xxx
New procedure at LITTAUER offers hope to chronic sinusitis sufferers Posted on December 9, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeDr. Paddock and Littauer team up to provide cutting-edge service to the areaDr. Paddock before sinus surgeryGloversville, NY… Nathan Littauer Hospital in conjunction with Dr. Bradley Paddock, a local Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Physician, has announced the launch of a Balloon SinuplastyTM treatment at Nathan Littauer’s Surgical Center in Gloversville.Littauer’s CEO and President Laurence E. Kelly notes, “Yet again, we are the first in the area to offer a new procedure to our patients. This procedure in particular, offers new hope to people who suffer with sinusitis, a very common problem.”Dr. Paddock has been working extensively with Acclarent, Inc., a privately held medical device company in Menlo Park, CA. According to Acclarent, the company is focused on “achieving the goals of sinus surgery with novel, endoscopic, catheter-based tools – Balloon Sinuplasty™ devices.” Acclarent reports that about 10% of the population suffers with sinusitis and could benefit from this procedure. Dr. Paddock has completed Acclarent’s certification course in balloon sinuplasty and related techniques.According to Paddock, sinusitis sufferers generally tend to live with their symptoms or use a myriad of medications like nasal sprays or antibiotics. More drastic treatments can involve cutting and drilling surgery on the delicate bones of the para nasal sinus complex. Dr. Paddock explains, “We have been performing this procedure since August with excellent results.”The new Balloon Sinuplasty treatment offers a less invasive way to treat patients. Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that works by widening the drainage channels from the sinuses into the nasal cavities through the use of specially designed balloons. The surgery can be done as an outpatient service allowing patients the opportunity to go home that day. It can also be done as a compliment to conventional sinus surgery.Dr. Paddock states, “NLH was one of the first two hospitals to bring fiber optic sinus surgery to the Capital District and it was one of the first hospitals to use image-guided techniques. I am glad that we can again offer an improvement to our patients with sinus disease. While Acclarent’s equipment allows us to help patients with any sinus problems it is especially beneficial to patients with frontal and sphenoid sinus disease. “To find out more information on the procedure please contact the office of Dr. Bradley Paddock at 518-725-8656. XXX
2009 Tree of Lights Ceremony Kicks Off Holiday Season Posted on December 2, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital’s annual Tree of Lights Celebration ushered in the Holiday Season last night. The Tree of Lights, now in its 19th year was lit last light in a celebration complete with music, refreshments and prayers. Offered as “A Symbol of Hope and Love” the memory tree was lit by Auxiliary President Anita Moore in front of many onlookers. The tree is outside the hospital’s surgical waiting room, adorned with over 600 white lights lit in memory of loved ones. This year, about 65 people came to the ceremony. Attendees were entertained by Devan Rowe, and joined Pat Travis- Doull and Nate’s Notes in singing Christmas carols.The annual event is brought to the community by the Nathan Littauer Hospital Auxiliary. People throughout the community buy a light as a tribute or memorial. This year the Auxiliary raised over $3,000 . Littauer’s Director of Volunteer Services, Sue McNeil noted, “We are so grateful to all our dedicated volunteers who bring us this moving event, year after year. It is a warm reminder of the holidays and of our loved ones.”Tree of Lights FestivalLittauer’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly told the onlookers, “It is fitting we would have this celebration when we are about to open our new maternity unit.” He explained that this moving tribute combined with the new maternity unit honors the cycle of life.The Tree of Lights Committee is:Bonnie James-Cooper and Donna Ellithorpe, Co-ChairmenToby OrtellMona CapassoPat WalkerSusan McNeilSue McNeil and Devon Rowe sing at this year’s celebration
Littauer to hold H1N1 (Swine flu) vaccination clinic Posted on December 1, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikePublic Advisory*******************************************************Event: Swine Flu Vaccination Clinic Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009Place: Littauer’s Gloversville Primary Care Center, 99 East State Street, Gloversville, NYTimes: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm – Established Littauer Primary Care Patients1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – All walk-ins welcome- WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!******************************************************Johnstown, NY —Nathan Littauer’s Primary Care Network will be holding an H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccination clinic at their Gloversville Primary Care Center located next to the Hospital at 99 East State Street. Established patients will be vaccinated first, from the hours of 9am to 1pm. Those people who are not established patients can be vaccinated between the hours of 1pm to 4pm, while supplies last.All patients will be asked to complete a consent form, which will be available on site. Patients will be vaccinated according to the New York State Department of Health Guidelines. For more information, people may email the hospital at flu@nlh.org or contact Littauer’s Flu Resource Line at 773-5399.
Littauer’s Dr. McBiles appears on WNYT Channel 13 Posted on December 1, 2009 by Dakota PikeWhen a national task force released new mammogram recommendations, the local media turned to Littauer to help sort out the confusion. Littauer’s Doctor McBiles gave an interview, lending clarity at a very confusing time.
