During the COVID-19 surge that began in fall 2021, there was a tremendous increase in patient need for acute and emergency care—the surge taxed the health care system, but staff and providers remained resilient. Staff and providers from across Southern New Hampshire Health system stepped up to help their colleagues in the Intensive Care Unit…
When Scott MacFarland, at the young age of 37, was diagnosed with Stage III rectal cancer after a colonoscopy at Elliot Gastroenterology, it changed his world. The Bedford, NH resident and real estate agent then met with providers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston who determined his treatment plan. For radiation treatments, he was referred…
Stephanie Szopa was surprised when she discovered she had been named one of the Union Leader’s annual 40 under Forty award winners, who are recognized for significantly contributing to their field, community and/or the state. As an Infection Prevention Officer for the Elliot Health System, Stephanie oversees the system’s activities aimed at preventing healthcare-associated…
Before the pandemic, Elliot Hospital case managers would rarely see a patient who had been roomed overnight in the Emergency Department while waiting for a bed. These days it’s common for a dozen or more patients to be standing by for case management to ensure a safe discharge plan or for an inpatient bed to…
Southern New Hampshire Medical Center received some welcomed support from the National Guard to alleviate the workload on staff as the COVID surge continues, and increased health care needs are extremely high. The team arrived on January 13th and will be on site through February. The National Guard team is working alongside SNHMC staff to…
The National Guard has deployed a seven-person team to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center to increase operational capacity for staffing during this latest surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will be on site through February. “Staffing in health care across New Hampshire continues to be a challenge. Our community is pulling together to provide…
With the volume of COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in our community and the need to innovate to meet staffing needs, Southern New Hampshire Health began their Helping Hands program, which provides opportunities for employees in non-clinical roles to provide support to frontline teams. True to the organization’s culture, several Southern New Hampshire Health and…
As a first-time mother, Lindsay Ross, says Elliot Hospital’s lactation team and its Moms group were her lifelines when she gave birth five years ago to her son, Jack. “For me, breastfeeding didn’t come naturally,” she says. “I think if I had been left to try to figure it out on my own, and I…
Local father, Ryan Comstock, recently took his daughter to the Elliot Hospital Emergency Department for much needed care due to a viral form of pneumonia. This visit was stressful, but successful, as hospital staff are fighting COVID-19 harder than ever while caring for many patients with other acute needs. Ryan shared, “Everyone expects when they…
We are working harder than ever to fight COVID-19. Hospitals across the state are seeing overflowing ICUs and inpatient units. Our Emergency Department and Urgent Care centers are seeing record numbers of very sick patients who need beds. Compounding this situation is the ongoing nationwide healthcare staffing shortage. Please watch this video to better understand…