December 2, 2024
By Steve Ahnen, President, New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA)
As we enter this holiday season of thanks and giving, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the invaluable contributions made by our health care professionals, who work tirelessly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, always there, ready to care.
This commitment, however, goes well beyond the direct care received within the four walls of health care facilities. All hospitals and health systems across New Hampshire are dedicated to caring for their communities and the people they serve. They not only strive to provide exceptional, high-quality health care, but to create healthy, vibrant communities. Hospitals and health systems lead and invest in a wide variety of programs and initiatives that not only care for the sick and injured, but also help keep people healthy. They provide health care services for every patient who comes through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay; they provide donations to community organizations who offer essential programs and services; they collaborate with other important community stakeholders to build vital community resources; and they subsidize needed health services to improve health care access.
Hospitals and health systems are innovating to find new ways to support our communities and patients, regardless of who they are, where they live or their financial means. A mobile farmstand for low-income families; a rural transportation initiative; a school dental program; community health workers connecting patients to essential services; and a program designed to improve health care access by starting a new residency program in a full-service family medicine clinic are just a few examples of the innovative services that are being provided by hospitals and health systems day in and day out to invest in communities and improve the health and health care of populations.
Fiscal year 2022 data, the latest year for which community benefit financial information was reported, shows a total community benefit investment by hospitals and health systems of more than $668 million. Five-year trend data from 2018-2022 shows the total overall value of community benefits provided by NH hospitals and health systems has increased by over 37% despite the ongoing financial challenges facing hospitals over that same period. These numbers reflect benefits to real people.
North Conway’s MaineHealth Memorial connects older patients with community resources through a program that supports adults with a wide range of chronic health conditions, including dementia. St. Joseph Hospital’s Mobile Health Clinic travels throughout the Greater Nashua community four days per week providing non-urgent, walk-in care to anyone regardless of insurance, with a focus on the most vulnerable and underserved populations and partnering with multiple community nonprofits to offer free preventative health screenings. Southern New Hampshire Health is screening its primary care patients for food insecurity and providing resources and tote bags of food to those who score as in need, with over 160 people receiving totes of easily prepared food in the first few months alone. Through Speare Memorial Hospital’s School Dental Health Program, more than 1,200 students annually are provided a host of dental services right at school, free of charge or at low cost. Elliot Health System opened a food pantry dedicated to its patients at the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot and also partners with Fresh Start Farms and the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester to bring the Fresh Start Farms Mobile Market to the Club, providing over 35,000 pounds of food to the community through this program over the last four years. In partnership with Newport Health Center, New London Hospital’s Mobile Farm Stand Program provides fresh, local produce to patients experiencing food insecurity free of charge. Catholic Medical Center partners with a food pantry run by a local church to offer a preventative food pantry for patients who are identified by CMC as food insecure and who have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or congestive heart failure that call for specialized diets.
Hospitals and health systems are the cornerstones of their community and partner with many other stakeholders to improve the health of the patients and communities they serve. The leadership and steadfast commitment shown by their leadership and health care professionals serves as a vital bridge, enabling us to achieve our fullest health potential, and for that, and so much more, we owe them our thanks.
As you enjoy your holiday with family and friends, we encourage you to take a moment to express appreciation for the many health care workers who are selflessly working over the holidays caring for others, ensuring the well-being of everyone. The Blue and White H promises health, healing and hope, and we wish that for you all this holiday season and always.
Steve Ahnen is president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. The NHHA provides leadership through advocacy, education, and information in support of its member hospitals and health systems as they strive to improve the health of the individuals and communities they serve.
