Michelle Beckley, second-quarter Goodwill Award winner

Michelle Beckley, second-quarter Goodwill Award winner

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home announced the 2015 second-quarter Goodwill Employee. Michelle Beckley, a registered nurse in Littauer’s Special Care Center, is the recipient.

Laurence E. Kelly said, “Michelle exemplifies Littauer’s values every day and is the perfect fit for this honor.”

Beckley has been employed at Littauer for almost 20 years, and her compassionate professionalism is the reason she was honored at the celebration.

“I have seen the Goodwill Award given to so many incredible employees. I never thought it would be me,” said Beckley. “I was very surprised and honored.”

Mr. Kelly touted Beckley’s kindness and understanding as a specialty care nurse. “What sets Michelle above and beyond is her genuine compassion. She even came in on her day off to check on a patient,” said Kelly. “Sometimes it’s the random acts of kindness and acts of true compassion that make all the difference in health care.”

Nominations for the award are made by NLH employees, providers or patients, and then submitted to the Goodwill Committee. Award winners are selected using a blind format

Beckley received a plaque and a check along with the special honor.

Second-quarter Goodwill Award winner Michelle Beckley

Second-quarter Goodwill Award winner Michelle Beckley

Another grateful patient

The Birthing Center is a happy place
Our Birthing Center Team display just some of the notes, cards and pictures they get from happy families.

Every day we get letters from patients who are grateful for their care at Nathan Littauer. Here, Crysti O’Connor, RN who has been an Obstetrics Nurse in our Birthing Center for 15 years, reads a note the team received today…

Another grateful patient

 

 

Littauer welcomes Dr. Luz Alvarez

“I am excited to join Littauer and I am happy to bring my practice here”

Nathan Littauer Hospital is proud to announce Luz F. Alvarez, M.D. has joined the Gastroenterology Specialists of Littauer. Alvarez is an established gastroenterologist with a dedicated practice in this region and nearly three decades of medical experience.

Dr. Alvarez will join the Nathan Littauer Gastroenterologist Specialty Team

Dr. Alvarez has joined the Nathan Littauer Gastroenterologist Specialty Team

“Dr. Alverez has a thriving practice and we were more than willing to help her migrate that practice to the new center we developed and customized to her clinical needs,” said Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s President and CEO. “As CEO, it is especially satisfying to know we will have thousands of new patients that will now be a part of Littauer Health Services.”

“I am excited to join Littauer and I am happy to bring my practice here,” claims Dr. Alvarez.

Dr. Alvarez is combining forces with Dr. Kamini Ramani who also has a firmly established and well respected medical practice, and Dr. Hamid Azizur Rehman, whom she has worked closely with for 25 years. The three Littauer doctors together create the region’s most highly respected force in gastroenterology, armed with the latest state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

“Joining Littauer was a very smooth transition for me and my practice,” said Alvarez. “I am able to work with a well-recognized team, and bring my services to the Littauer community.”

Dr. Alvarez was born in Colombia, and came to the United States when she was 14 years-old. She knew she wanted to be a doctor since childhood.

“I was told as a child to be a nurse – women are not meant to be doctors” said Dr. Alvarez. “Perhaps that is why I have always strived so hard to be the best at what I do.”

She completed her undergraduate education at SUNY New Paltz in three years then continued medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse at where she fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. She completed her residency and a GI fellowship at Albany Medical College and has been in private practice since 1990.

“What is most gratifying to me is working directly with my patients. I enjoy getting to know them,” said Alvarez.

You will find Dr. Alvarez’s offices at Littauer’s Gastroenterology Primary/Specialty Center, 135 County Highway 128, Johnstown, (also known as 434 So. Kingsboro Ave. Extension next to Cataract Care Center and Mohawk Valley Orthopedics).

“I am looking forward to working in the new and complete outpatient endoscopy center,” touted Dr. Alvarez. “My patients can now be seen, be pretested, and undergo their procedure all at the same site. With this new seamless process, there will be no delays, and in most cases no lines and no use for a different facility. I think it will create a much more comfortable process for patients.”

An entirely new gastroenterology suite was developed at Litttauer’s Johnstown Surgery Center on So. Kingsboro Ave. for Dr. Alvarez. The 1458 square foot suite houses three exam rooms, one procedure room, two offices, two restrooms, and a new reception area. The office is adjacent to the completely refurbished Endoscopy Center with a reception area, three operating rooms; sterilization equipment, a multiple patient bay recovery room, exam rooms, and the most complete state-of-the art technology and equipment for all procedures.

Dr. Alvarez notes the transition for her existing patients is going to be a very comfortable process, as she is happy to say her staff has joined her at Littauer.

“I am excited to bring to my new center many of the same people I have worked with for the past 25 years. People from the front desk, to nurses, and gastroenterology technicians have been with my practice. Patients will have a very easy transition with all the familiar faces they have gotten to know and trust over the years,” said Alvarez.

Alvarez went on to say; “In addition to the new center, I am thrilled to be working with such a brilliant team of gastroenterologists. I have worked in collaboration with Dr. Ramani and Dr. Rehman for the past 25 years. As a team we can offer wonderful, quality patient care with complete coverage and service to this area.”

Colorectal cancer – which can be detected and treated by gastroenterologists, is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. Regularly scheduled screenings are highly recommended. People with any type of digestive orders are encouraged to schedule a consultation or appointment with Dr. Alvarez by calling (518) 752-5275.

 

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Your green neighbor

Our apple orchard

Watch our Earth Day message here!

Here at Nathan Littauer Hospital, we have come up with simple and creative ways to stay green.

Our apple orchard

Nathan Littauer, caring for Mother Earth, too.

On this Earth Day we would like to share just a few things we do to care for Mother Earth too:

  • We have saved 24,000 gallons a year by switching to microfiber mop heads.
  • We use a chemical free floor stripper, which is non-toxic and odor free.
  • We added a car charging station last year.
  • We also added new lights to our parking lot, which will save us 330,000 kilowatt hours.
  • We repurpose buildings for our Primary Care Centers.
  • We send unused medical supplies to third-world nations.
  • We clean condenser coils because we have found we use six to eight percent less electricity if we do so.
  • We have bike racks and many employees car pool.
  • We added a white roof to our nursing home to save electricity.

That is why we people call us their “Green Neighbor”.