Littauer prepares for H1N1 Posted on September 29, 2009 by Dakota PikeShots of HealthBy RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-HeraldFirst published in print: Sunday, September 20, 2009Some people may need to get two flu shots this year. One for the seasonal flu and the other for the H1N1, the virus more widely known as swine flu.Seasonal flu shots already are available in some places. Plans are being made for when and where inoculations of the separate H1N1 vaccine will be available.The first cases of the H1N1 virus appeared in the U.S. in March and April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By the end of April, the federal government had declared a public health emergency. Cases of H1N1 have since been reported in all 50 states.Fulton County Public Health Director Denise Frederick said involved agencies in the state were still planning, as of Wednesday, on how the swine flu vaccine will be distributed to the public.Karen Levison, the director of Hamilton County Public Health and Nursing Services, said the state has to wait for the CDC to release the vaccine. Each state will get a certain amount of the vaccine, which it will then determine how to distribute to the counties and what people take priority in getting it.The Food and Drug Administration approved the new swine flu vaccine Tuesday. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the vaccine’s approval to Congress – and said she hopes to get the first limited supplies distributed early in October.The bulk of vaccine will start arriving Oct. 15, and Sebelius said it should be available at 90,000 sites around the country. The government has ordered 195 million doses for now but may order more if needed, she said. Typically 100 million Americans seek the flu vaccine every year. Researchers have said one dose of the new swine flu vaccine looks strong enough to protect adults – and can begin protection within 10 days of the shot.It is expected that pregnant women and children will take priority when it comes to who will be eligible to get the vaccine first. Levison said there has been some discussion of going through Obstetrician and Gynecologists to make sure pregnant women get the vaccine, which inoculates the unborn child as well.Frederick said people who already have medical conditions compromising their health also will be high on the priority list. She said the people who have died of swine flu, similar to seasonal flu, normally have had some other condition compromising their health. The swine flu weakened their body to a point where it could no longer hold off the other problem.Mary Constantino, family nurse practitioner and infection control officer at Nathan Littauer?Hospital in Gloversville, said those highest at risk for swine flu will be inoculated first.http://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/515956.html Continue reading “Littauer prepares for H1N1”
Wellness Words September 2009 Posted on September 15, 2009 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BS, Community Health EducatorHEALTH LESSONS FROM YOUR TO-DO-LISTAre you a list-maker? Should you be one? According to Prevention Magazine, new research shows that writing lists does the mind and body good in many ways, from making you happier to increasing your workout time or intensity. There’s more…list making can also help you:Gain Control: “Surprisingly, lists help us reach our goals even when we don’t accomplish everything on them,” says Dr. Lyumbomirsky, a professor at the University of California, Riverside. Each time you cross something off, it’s a mental reminder that you are making progress. A list can also help you to realize when you need to delegate. For example, couldn’t your spouse stop at the store?Maximize Brainpower: You can only keep 7-9 things in your working memory at any given time. So when you try to remember all the things you need to do, you use up cognitive energy. But if you make a list, you free up brainpower to analyze your tasks and prioritize, delegate or even eliminate some. Plus, you have a much better chance of actually picking up the milk if it is on your list.Make Tough Decisions: If you’re paralyzed by indecision, make a “brainstorm list.” Jot down anything that comes to mind, no matter how improbable. The simple act of tackling a problem on paper can help you feel better equipped to handle it.Beat a Slump: List your happiest moments, such as the day you fell in love or the moment you first became a parent or grandparent. Then, close your eyes and relive the event as if you are there. One study found that people who reminisced 10 minutes a day reported increased happiness.Find Motivation: People who compiled weekly gratitude lists were more enthusiastic about life in general, according to recent research.Achieve Balance: When you are losing sight of your priorities, make a “my life would be better if” list. By enumerating and giving priority to the things that would provide the most lasting happiness, you’ll see where to focus your energy.Don’t Forget the Fun: A list that is top-heavy with obligations to others can quickly lead to stress and unhappiness. Make a list of things you enjoy doing like reading a good book or relaxing in a hammock. Include one of these items on your to-do-list each week.Follow the 90 Day Rule: If a task hangs around that long, ask yourself whether it’s worth the guilt you feel every time you see it on your list. If it’s not essential, delete it and forget about it. For most tasks, delegate it or just do it. The sense of accomplishment will be sweet!For more information on health and wellness, contact your healthcare provider or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our Wellness Center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re celebrating 20 years of being your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Nathan Littauer monitors childhood asthma cases Posted on September 2, 2009 by Dakota PikeBattling to breathe. Childhood asthma a local concern By ZACH SUBAR, special to The Leader-Herald. First published in print: Sunday, August 31, 2009Charleston resident Heather Bivins works hard to care for her 5-year-old son Josh, who was diagnosed with asthma at age 1 1/2. She has made several early morning trips to the emergency room, and has learned to juggle the medications and devices necessary to keep the disease in check. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride,” Bivins said. “He’s to the point now where we’ve gone through it enough times where we know the symptoms and treat them aggressively.”Still, even though there are many diligent parents like Bivins who care for their children’s asthma, numbers indicate high rates of childhood asthma, especially in Fulton County, are a reality in this area. Recent data from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office indicate children were hospitalized overnight 115 times from 2005 to 2007 in Fulton County for asthma symptoms. There are an estimated 866 children with asthma in the county. The number of times a child was placed in a hospital overnight compared to the number of children is higher here than almost anywhere else in New York.That total number of overnight stays within the three-year time span out of the 866 estimated children with asthma in the county means that, on average, one in about every 7 1/2 children was required to stay overnight in a medical ward.“If [children] have it, it’s not surprising that you would see hospitalizations,” Fulton County Public Health Director Denise Frederick said. “We’re one of the highest areas outside of New York City.” The next highest rate is in Sullivan County, where about one in every 8 1/2 children was required to stay overnight in a hospital, followed by Erie County, where about one in every 10 children with the disease had an overnight stay. The Bronx has the highest overall rate, with about one of every four hospitalized.One of every 17 Montgomery County children with asthma was hospitalized overnight, while Hamilton County’s rate is one in every 20 children. “It’s become so commonplace that you don’t necessarily think of it as a problem,” local pediatrician Dr. Richard A. Solby said. “And then you see numbers.”Solby, who works at Nathan Littauer Hospital’s Primary Care Center in Johnstown, said he deals with lots of child asthma patients. Part of the problem here, he said, is that many parents do not necessarily treat the disease every day, as they should.Instead of attacking the disease in a proactive manner, Solby said, and administering the proper medicines every day, parents often wait for symptoms to start before they bring their children in to be treated.“If you’re not treating those other components on a daily basis and being preventative, you’re running into a daily problem,” Solby said. Child asthma has been pinpointed as one of the top five public health issues in the county, according to Littauer spokeswoman Cheryl McGrattan. Continue reading “Nathan Littauer monitors childhood asthma cases”
Littauer breaks ground at Perth site Posted on August 28, 2009 by Dakota PikeBy KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, special to the Leader Herald. First published in print: Friday, August 28, 2009Facility “exploding” in growthPERTH – Driven by what they say is a need for more primary care in the area, Nathan Littauer Hospital officials celebrated a groundbreaking Thursday at the hospital’s primary care site here in preparation for an expansion of the facility.The facility on Route 30 has been open for about two years and has had more than 11,000 patient visits. While it began with five medical providers, it now houses 11 and has become crowded, said Nathan Littauer Chief Executive Officer Laurence E. Kelly. Some providers are sharing offices, he said. Continue reading “Littauer breaks ground at Perth site”
Nathan Littauer ranked 8th busiest Diagnostic Imaging Center Posted on August 27, 2009 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital ranked 8th busiest diagnostic Imaging Center Gloversville, NY… Nathan Littauer Hospital was ranked by The Business Review as the 8th largest diagnostic imaging center in Capital Region and surrounding area. The inaugural list of “Diagnostic Imaging Centers” was published this week by the Albany-based Business Review, ranking imaging centers by total patient visits in 2008. Nathan Littauer Hospital reported 56,417 total patient visits in 2008.The survey area included: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Green, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties. “It is rewarding to see so many of our patients benefit from the world’s best technology right their own backyard.” stated Nathan Littauer’s CEO and President Laurence E. Kelly. He added, “In the past seven years, Nathan Littauer Hospital has made a commitment to deliver cutting-edge technology to our region. And we are delivering on that promise. Previously this technology was only available in major metropolitan areas.” The hospital recently also purchased the region’s only GE 64-slice CT scanner and a new Primus rehabilitation system.Hospital spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan explains, “People have come to think of Nathan Littauer Hospital as a small hospital with big-city capabilities. Our increased numbers are reflecting that.” She added, “However, without the right doctors to interpret the images, diagnostic technology is merely gears, cables and wires. Our staff is our greatest asset, including the leadership of Dr. Sunjay Verma, Chief of Radiology, a nationally known radiologist.”To learn more about Nathan Littauer’s Diagnostic Imaging Capabilities, patients are encouraged to call: 773-4250.
Wellness Words August 2009 Posted on August 2, 2009 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BS, Community Health Educator UNDERSTANDING PROSTATE CANCER As we approach Prostate Cancer Awareness month, it’s a perfect time for men to talk with their health care providers about their risks for prostate cancer.According to the NYS Department of Health, prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer among American men, second only to skin cancer. The good news is that fewer men are dying from the disease. In 2009, it’s estimated that more than 1700 men will die from prostate cancer in New York State and more than 13,000 new cases will be diagnosed. The fact remains that over the course of their lives, one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.Scientists don’t know exactly what causes prostate cancer. However, certain factors have been shown to increase a man’s chances of developing it. These include:Age: As men get older, their chance of getting this cancer increases. The majority of cases are diagnosed in men 65 and older, and 90% of prostate cancer deaths are in men over 65.Ethnicity: Prostate cancer is much more common in African-American men than in white men. In New York State, African-American men are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer, and nearly twice as likely to die from it.Family History: If a man’s father, brother or son has had prostate cancer, his risk of having the disease is doubled or even tripled.Diet: Some studies suggest that men who eat large amounts of animal fats may face increased risk of prostate cancer.The good news is that most prostate cancers grow very slowly. There are more than two million men alive today who have had prostate cancer, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Some medical experts recommend prostate cancer screening for all men over 50, and for younger men who are at increase risk for the condition. However, at this time, there is not enough scientific evidence to say definitively that the benefits of prostate screening outweigh the risks associated with screening. Medical experts do agree that men should know the risks and benefits before they are screened.For more information on prostate cancer, contact your health care provider, the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 (cancer.org), or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our Wellness Center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re celebrating 20 years of being your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Nathan Littauer’s employee of the quarter Posted on August 2, 2009August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeOur new employee of the quarterNATHAN LITTAUER Announces employee of the quarterHeather Sousa referred to as “Radar O’Reilly” for the medical staff August 5, 2009Gloversville, NY– Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home announced their Employee of the second Quarter for 2009, Ms. Heather Souza. Ms. Sousa works at the Nathan Littauer Family Practice Group in Gloversville. Ms. Sousa was presented with a gift of appreciation by the Hospital’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly during an employee celebration last week. She also was presented with a plaque. Mr. Kelly explained, “Heather strives to be the best at her job, works well with others and is very, very good to our patients.” She has even driven to patient’s houses, in extreme cases to deliver prescriptions to patients. Her coworkers, who made the nomination, explained that she “goes above and beyond her call of duty”.Ms. Sousa said thank you to the crowd that had gathered, which included her family. She did not know she would be chosen as employee of the quarter until Mr. Kelly announced her name. Dr. David Pesses, MD a family practitioner at the hospital added, “I have been tempted to call her ‘Radar’ because she knows what I need or need to know before I ask.” Dr. Pesses reference is to the 1970’s TV show M*A*S*H and the character of Radar O’Reilly who had a knack for predicting people’s thoughts or needs before they were even spoken.The Employee of the Quarter 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.Caption for photo: Heather Sousa holds her employee of the quarter award.
