Littauer’s Perth Primary Care Center Adds Diagnostic Capabilities Posted on May 4, 2010August 16, 2012 by Dakota Pike Mammogram screenings, dexa bone scans, x-rays are now available, as center explodes in growth. Perth, NY…Littauer’s Perth Primary Care Center located on Highway 30 in Perth, is now offering mammogram screenings, Dexa bone scans and x-rays services of the lungs and limbs. “The service is available to anyone with a doctor’s order, you need not be a Littauer patient.” stated Hospital Spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan.Perth site adds Diagnostic ServicesMammogram screenings are generalized exams, used to evaluate breast health. Dexa (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) bone scans are a means of measuring bone density. It is the most widely used and most thoroughly studied bone density measurement technology. The Dexa Scan is typically used to diagnose and follow osteoporosis. “Bone health should be taken very seriously.” stated Hospital Spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan. She continued, “According to statistics 50% of all woman and 25% of all men over the age of 50 will have an osto-related fracture in their lifetime.” She added, “And according to GE Healthcare “20% of patients will die within one year of a hip fracture. Bone health is serious. And we are so pleased we can offer this service now, as May is osteoporosis month.” “Undoubtedly this is a huge boon to this area. Any time we bring preventative and diagnostic services into the community, our area benefits.” stated Jan Carstens, MD, a practitioner at the Perth site. She explained, “I am thrilled to offer this convenience to my patients.” The new diagnostic equipment is housed in the center’s new expansion. In February Littauer finished the expansion to their primary care center. The addition adds about 2000 feet in new treatment and office space. “The expansion is barely noticeable from the street” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO, “but it gives us valuable elbow room.” He added, “Simply put, the center is exploding in growth!”The expansion is due to a huge influx in patient visits to the center. In 2008 the center had 10,123 visits and in 2009 they reported 15,448 visits, an increase of 53%. Littauer also added 3 additional primary and specialty care physicians to the center in 2009. The physical expansion includes more treatment areas, diagnostic imaging capabilities and soon it will have greater access to parking.The center’s hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 Monday thru Friday. The facility also offers lab services, seeing about 20 patients a day. Lab services are offered from 8:00am to 3:00 pm Monday thru Friday. “We knew we could add more space if need be, but we thought that might be warranted in a few years time not in a few months.” Mr. Kelly explained. He stated, “Our Perth Primary Care Center is our mission realized- bringing our services into the community.” XXX
Littauer Launches “Learn from Littauer” Posted on April 26, 2010August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeStaff at NLH giving healthy living tips via social networking sitesGloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer will start launching a new program, “Learn from Littauer” a weekly healthy living tip program aimed at their many Facebook and Twitter followers. “We could have used canned wellness tips but we wanted to use the expertise and creatively of our employees.” stated Cheryl McGrattan, hospital spokesperson. She added, “Now people can get a wellness tip from our surgical staff, our dietitians, and even our housekeepers. After all, we are all striving to live a healthier lifestyle.” The idea came from Littauer’s Healthlink coordinator, Sue Cridland.Starting the Learn from Littauer health tip program is the CEO himself, Laurence E. Kelly. “I liked this idea and thought I would pass on a tip that I live by” stated Mr. Kelly. The first tip will preview Monday April 26, 2010. The Learn from Littauer healthy living tips can be viewed by logging on to the hospital’s Facebook and Twitter sites. “Our staff is responding with great enthusiasm” explained Cheryl McGrattan.A weekly wellness tip program will begin April 26, 2010xxx
Nurses throughout the region attend “Train the Trainer” program offered by Littauer Posted on April 22, 2010August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeLittauer’s P.E.A.R.L. Program trains nurses to succeedGloversville, NY…A group of nurses gathered April 5th and 9th at Littauer’s HealthLink offices to learn how to best transition new nurses into their field. PEARL stands for: Promoting Education And Relationships at Littauer, and is a “train the trainer” series created specifically for nurses. The PEARL Clinical Coaching at NLH is designed to give professional preceptors the tools necessary to assist new employees. The intensive two-day seminar educates clinical coaches in the concepts and theories of precepting as developed by the Vermont Nurse Internship Project. “This program helps nurses train today’s nurse, resulting in a greater job satisfaction, and higher retention rates.” stated Kathy Rohrs, MSN, RN, the program organizer and lead educator. She added, “The best result of this program is enhanced patient care and employee satisfaction.”A program which is earning rave reviewsAbout 19 participants were instructed in various techniques that help to acclimate graduate nurses or licensed nurses to the demands of today’s acute care hospital. The program teaches conflict management, fostering critical thinking, use of effective communication, organization skills, delegation and liability. The participants develop a learning plan and review how to assess nurses’ competence. Mr. Rohrs explains, “The end goal is to develop a professional preceptor who is a competent, communicative nurse, not only content in their position but educated in how to assist new nurses reach that same point.”The program is modeled from the Vermont Nurses in Partnership curriculum in professional preceptor development. Susan Boyer, MS, RN, Director of VNIP, stated “Vermont Nurses In Partnership (VNIP) has greatly enjoyed sharing the VNIP model/resources with NYSNA and the involved NY Health Care agencies. Each agency faces unique and challenging circumstances, thus the flexibility of the VNIP model is essential to its success. With ten years of experience and data collection, we have learned that nurse internships are essential to safe and effective transition into practice. This experience validates that internships are as strong or as weak as the foundation that is built for them and the primary structure of that foundation is preceptor development and support. The success that Nathan Littauer Hospital has had with the VNIP program gives evidence of the hospital’s commitment to high quality care and evidence-based practice.”Now in its second year, the program is has shown great success to the recruitment and retention rate of nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital. Proudly, the information from last year’s program was presented by the New York State Nurses Association to a seminar in Africa. This year, Mrs. Susan Boyer, Executive Director of the Vermont Nurses Association in Partnership (VNIP) has requested that the successful campaign format for NLH be allowed to be used for the VNIP project to assist other hospitals in the Northeast in implementation of such educational sessions.The program is receiving rave reviews. Evaluations of the program said it was a “great program, very informative as well as entertaining” and “I appreciate the value NLH has for their employees in training and retraining them.” If you are a nurse and would like more information on professional Preceptor training please contact the Education Department at Nathan Littauer Hospital at 773-5495. xxx
Littauer experts post video to help golfers improve their game Posted on April 22, 2010 by Dakota PikeFinally, nice weather has arrived. Looking to improve your golf game? Let Littauer show you how. Learn simple techniques from our licensed Physical Therapist William Oates in this short video. Click here: How to stretch before a round of golf.Sports medicine and injury prevention is their goal
Stewart’s to give comfort to NLH Posted on April 12, 2010August 16, 2012 by Dakota Pike Littauer to rock more children to sleepStewarts provides money for new rockersGloversville, NY…The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program recently awarded $3,432 to Nathan Littauer Hospital. “This was a timely gift; one we will use immediately to purchase four rocker/gliders.” stated Susan Kiernan, Vice President of Development. Providing the check was Sarah Baker of Stewart’s.The gliders will be used in Pediatrics and in the New Birthing Center. “Children, whether they are newborns or sick, love to be rocked,” stated Susan Kiernan. “Sometimes in healing, the simplest things can have the greatest impact. That is surely the case with these rockers.”“It is a beautiful thing to see a baby rocked to sleep.” Kim Colvin manager of Littauer’s New Birthing Center and Pediatric unit explained. She added, “We are so grateful for the generosity of Stewart’s Holiday Match Program.”
Littauer raises awareness during “Donate Life” Month Posted on April 9, 2010August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeFlag raised to salute donorsLittauer honors organ donationGloversville, 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 Littauerxxx 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.
Great Care Appreciated Posted on April 8, 2010 by Dakota PikeApril 2, 2010First published in the: Leader HeraldLast week, our oldest daughter experienced some health issues, requiring transportation to Nathan Littauer Hospital. She was admitted to pediatrics for two days. She is well again now.We have many people to thank. First, a special thanks to ASFC’s Don Frye and Wayne Allan. You guys were awesome, both true professionals. We will never forget all that you did for us, especially the quick response time. Thanks for staying with me in the ED and reassuring me. Thanks seems so inadequate at this time. We are very lucky as a community to have people like you in the field.Thanks so very much to Dr. Laurie Gorgas, ED. Your kind words and professional, caring manner all mean the world to me. You did a great job with her.Thanks to Eileen and Chantelle, and all of you who were on duty. You are great nurses. I’m so proud of you.Thanks to all the fine ladies in pediatrics. You took great care of Taylor and the rest of us, too.Thanks to our dear friend Dr. Robert Werblin, who spent hours of his own time (while not on duty) talking and reassuring. We love you, Doc.Thanks to Dr. Kumar and Dr. James for caring for Tay. And thank you to all my friends and co-workers who came to see us, asked how she was, called, and sent flowers, treats and your love. Thanks to all of Taylor’s friends for visiting and being there when she needed you.I hope I didn’t forget anyone. Just know as a family, we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all you did.Nathan Littauer Hospital is a wonderful place filled with great people. I’m proud to be part of that team.CHARMAINE D. MISKINIS, RNMayfieldhttp://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/521240.html?showlayout=0
