Message from our President and CEO>>

Since its inception in 1893, Little Falls Hospital has undergone many changes. Advances in technology, medicine, and new standards for quality and safety have yielded benefits, opportunities, and challenges for patients and providers alike.

Two-thousand and six marks another year of substantial progress and successful adaptation to these forces, in the continuing evolution of Little Falls Hospital. Efforts to “right size” LFH have resulted in significant efficiencies, service, and technology improvements. The resulting savings have enabled us to continue to invest in our highly dedicated and skilled workforce, our facility, and new state-of-the-art technology. Collectively these efforts have contributed to the financial stability that ensures our ability to provide convenient access to high quality, compassionate care long into the future.

Now, as a proud affiliate of the Bassett Healthcare system, Little Falls Hospital enters 2007 with an ambitious agenda for continued improvements in our facility and our delivery of service. For example, our recent matching grant of $2+ million from the NYS Department of Health will be used to support the renovation and expansion of our emergency department, expand our surgical capability, reconfigure our medical and surgical beds, and numerous other improvements throughout the facility.

Additional technology improvements will include the deployment of high-definition laparoscopic video equipment in our operating suite, new anesthesia equipment, a new high speed multi-slice CT unit, and the implementation of a picture archiving communication systems (PACS) that will enable the digital storage, transfer and viewing of medical images. A new patient registration system will lay the groundwork for an electronic medical record which will facilitate the prompt and up-to-date transfer of medical information to providers throughout the system.

As impressive as all the new technology and physical improvements may be, the benefits are limited if we were not meeting the expectations of our patients and our families. To that end, we are fully engaged in an array of initiatives to ensure that every patient has a superior experience at Little Falls Hospital that reflects our commitment to providing safe, high-quality care, and excellent service.

This report provides additional detail regarding our recent progress and our plans for the future. As always, we welcome comments about these efforts and/or your experience with our services.

Sincerely,
Jonathan I. Lawrence