Nathan Littauer to Resume Preoperative COVID-19 Testing

Nathan Littauer to Resume Preoperative COVID-19 Testing

Out of an abundance of caution, and for our patients’ safety, Nathan Littauer Hospital will once again require COVID-19 testing prior to all surgeries performed in our Surgical Center.

Any questions about preoperative testing can be answered by calling our Surgery Center at (518) 773-5791

For other questions about general COVID-19 testing, we encourage you to utilize New York State’s COVID testing center locator, by visiting their website here.

Guidance From Littauer on COVID 19

Nathan Littauer’s COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline:

(518) 773-5238

New York State Vaccination Hotline for
Eligible New Yorkers: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX

To find out if you are eligible for vaccination, visit New York State’s website at: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/… Enter your information, and see if you are eligible for the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccine.

If you are looking to be tested for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, visit New York State’s test site locator on their website here to find the closest testing site near you:https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you

Additionally, here are the numbers to local public health departments:

Fulton County Public Health Department â€“ (518) 736-5720
https://www.fultoncountyny.gov/public-health

Montgomery County Public Health Department â€“ (518) 853-3531
https://www.co.montgomery.ny.us/web/sites/news/covid19.asp

Hamilton County Public Health Department â€“ (518) 648-6497
https://www.hamiltoncounty.com/healt…/coronavirus-covid-19

We are committed to the health and safety of our patients, visitors, and employees. Our preparations involve ensuring we are equipped to respond to any potential cases in our area. We are continuing to work closely with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local public health departments to actively monitor and respond to this dynamic situation.

Symptoms

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pneumonia

If you develop these symptoms please call your primary care provider before seeking treatment in person, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing others. A provider will talk to you on the telephone, give advice for caring for yourself at home or pave the way to a full coronavirus workup. 

The CDC states that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. For a complete list of COVID-19 symptoms, click here.

Protect Yourself

Regular hand washing remains one of the best defenses against COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, including seasonal flu. People can help protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid close contact with people.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Protect Others

At this time, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is currently under visitor restrictions.

To learn more about Littauer’s visitation guidelines, click here for our Nursing Home restrictions, and here for our hospital.

If you are sick, avoid contact with people and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.

  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve (not your hands) or a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, then wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Helpful Resources

NYSDOH: Novel Coronavirus

CDC: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

CDC: What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

NYS COVID-19 County Tracker

County Health Department Contact Information
 

County  Phone Number
Albany (518) 447-4580
Clinton (518) 565-4840
Columbia (518) 828-3358
Essex (518) 873-3500
Franklin (518) 481-1710
Fulton (518) 736-5720
Greene (518) 719-3600
Hamilton (518) 648-6497
Herkimer (315) 866-6879
Lewis (315) 376-5433
Montgomery (518) 853-3531
Oneida (315) 798-5748
Rensselaer (518) 270-2655
Saratoga (518) 584-7460
Schenectady (518) 386-2810
Schoharie (518) 295-8382
Warren (518) 761-6580
Washington (518) 746-2400

You may question whether you should attend an appointment with your PCP or our Specialist offices for routine or follow up care that is not related to a respiratory illness.

Our plan is to deter respiratory sick calls from our offices during this time.  You will be safe attending your regular visits.

Should the county, state or nationwide advice on this change, we will change our policy to conform and we will notify you.