“Investing in Our Future”

Community Commentary
By Judie Reever
Chair, LRGHealthcare Board of Trustees

My family’s roots run deep in this community and at Lakes Region General Hospital. For as long as I can remember, the hospital has been a part of the stories my family has told around the dinner table. My mother used to tell us about her days in nursing school there, laughing as she retold some of the antics she and her fellow students indulged in. I like to share with my own children that my mother cared for their father in the hospital nursery when he was born, never dreaming that he would grow up to marry the daughter she had yet to give birth to, in that very same nursery, a few years later. The stories of my children's births and then many of my grandchildren and most recently, great-grandchildren, are favorites. My first job, while I was in high school, was as a switchboard operator at LRGH, a job I have to explain to my grand-children. "What's a switchboard?” My first experience as a community volunteer was joining Nursery Guild in 1968 and serving as President of the organization in 1970-71.

You may think that the depth of my connection with LRGH is unusual, but it’s not. What is so unusual is the fact that this connection isn’t at all unique—many families in this community share that same sense of history, and connection, with our community hospital.

Earlier this week, LRGHealthcare received approval from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their commitment to insure a $142 million mortgage loan for LRGHealthcare—furthering this organization’s ability to meet the current and future healthcare needs of this community. Beginning in the next week, shovels will be in the ground and projects will be underway at Lakes Region General Hospital and at Belknap Family Health in Meredith. Before the end of the year, internal renovations will begin on the Franklin Regional Hospital Emergency Department.

These projects will enhance healthcare services throughout our region, from the northern end of Lake Winnipesaukee to the communities around the Three Rivers. These are major investments, to be sure, but they are investments that need to be made.

Some people have asked, “Should we be doing this now, with the current economic climate?” The answer, which I can state unequivocally on behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, is a resounding “Yes.”

Over their century-long histories, Lakes Region General Hospital and Franklin Regional Hospital have been here for these communities, in good times and bad. In order for these organizations, and our local provider network, to continue to be here, and to remain viable and current, these projects need to be done.

These projects will enable our local healthcare system to meet the current and future healthcare needs of our growing elderly population. They will allow us to meet evolving infection control and privacy standards by offering single room patient care throughout our LRGH facility—a feature that patients have come to expect in their hospital experience. These projects will improve our infrastructure to support the technology we need today, and position us to serve our communities in times of crisis. They will enhance our emergency services for the Three Rivers community, and provide greater, more convenient access to primary and specialty care, as well as other outpatient services for folks living in the Meredith community.

Economic challenges also create opportunities. It is a good time to build—building costs are down. As the largest employer in the region, LRGHealthcare has a major impact on our local economy. In a time when unemployment is rising to levels not seen in recent history, these projects will position LRGHealthcare to provide a major boost to the local economy. According to HUD’s economic models, these projects will support 536 full-time jobs and provide an estimated economic stimulus of $132.3 million to the community. Once completed, HUD estimates that the projects will support 451 jobs. And HUD’s approval of our application is providing us with an unparalleled opportunity—to complete the projects we need to further healthcare in our community, with a savings of more than $27 million over the life of the loan. Moving forward now is not only the right thing to do for healthcare in our community; it is also the fiscally responsible thing to do.

LRGHealthcare is not just investing in bricks and mortar. This organization is investing in the future of our community, just as past generations invested in the future to provide you and I with the healthcare resources we have today. Past generations took responsibility to build this healthcare system for us—it is our turn to take responsibility to build the hospitals and healthcare services our children and grandchildren will need tomorrow.

A hospital is an integral part of a community. To me, this investment is reassurance that as long as these hospitals, and this healthcare system are needed, they will be here. For me, my children, and every generation that follows.

LRGHealthcare has a long, rich history of serving this community. I hope you share my belief that together, this organization and this community will share an even richer future.