As the physician and nurse leaders of hospitals and healthcare systems in New Hampshire, we have an important safety message regarding COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. We hoped the trend of decreasing cases this spring would continue, and we could get back to what we all yearned for—returning to a “new normal”. Unfortunately, we’ve watched with great concern the number of new infections, hospitalizations and deaths dramatically rising in New Hampshire. We need your help to stem this tide and avoid overwhelming our hospitals like those in other parts of the country are experiencing.

Get the COVID-19 vaccine . The science and data prove these vaccines are safe and effective. The vast majority of patients hospitalized in New Hampshire with severe COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Reach out to your doctor or other trusted sources to get questions answered then make an appointment to get the vaccine to protect you, your loved ones, and your communities.

Wear a mask.   The science and data show us that wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status, is an effective means of preventing the spread of COVID-19. We strongly encourage our state’s political leaders to consider the adoption of a statement recommending mask use when we are in indoor, congregate settings. A recommendation from the State that is in line with CDC guidelines, even if temporary during this surge, would help dispel the confusion that business, school, and community leaders are currently experiencing.

Stay home if you are not feeling well and get a COVID-19 test if you are experiencing symptoms .

Wash your hands frequently .

These evidence-based, public health measures are all important tools in the fight against COVID-19. There is no one solution that can completely eliminate the risk of spreading COVID-19, but when layered together, these interventions will have a significant impact on the rate of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in New Hampshire. Each one of us must do all that we can to limit the spread.

We know that when we follow these prevention measures, they will reduce the rate of spread and lessen the burden on the health care system so we can ensure that every patient receive the care they need, when and where they need it. If the recent trends in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue, the clinicians and so many others who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, will suffer additional stress, potentially putting others at risk, as hospitals reach capacity and are unable to care for patients who need care.

The decision to continue these safety measures is driven by data and guidance from healthcare experts, not politics. Public health draws on data to chart the route from where we are now, to where we need to go. It keeps hospitals and healthcare facilities safe places for patients to receive both routine and emergency care as

 

needed. These measures will not only help prevent another catastrophic surge in hospital admissions and COVID-19 deaths, but they will also help to keep our schools and businesses open and our economy thriving.

We need your help. Keep COVID-19 under control by doing what you can to prevent more infections. Support our dedicated and courageous healthcare heroes as they continue the fight against COVID-19 while safely caring for all your health care needs. Now is our opportunity to impact the arc of this pandemic. Working together, we are confident that we can make a difference and get this dangerous virus under control.

 

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Michael Lynch, MD, MBA                                                        Jean Ten Haken, MSN, RN, CENP

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Vice President, Nursing/Chief Nursing Officer & COO

 

Androscoggin Valley Hospital

Keith Shute, MD, MMM, FAAP                                               Brian O’Hearn, MBA, BSN, CEN

Chief Medical Officer/Senior Vice President                       Chief Nursing Officer/VP, Patient Care Services

 

Catholic Medical Center

Michael Gilbert, MD, MS, MHCDS                                         Jennifer Cassin, MS, RN, CNS, CENP

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer

 

Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Keene – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Cherie Holmes, MD                                                                  Amy Matthews, DNP, MS, RN, CENP

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Senior VP, Patient Care Services & CNO

 

Concord Hospital

Christopher A. Fore, MD, FACEP                                            Erin Collins, RN

Chief Quality Officer                                                                Vice President, Nursing

 

Matthew Gibb, MD, MHCDS, FACC, FACP, FSCAI

Chief Clinical Officer

 

Concord Hospital – Laconia/Franklin

Matthew Gibb, MD, MHCDS, FACC, FACP, FSCAI                                                                                       Theresa L. Champagne, DNP, RN, CNOR

Acting Chief Medical Officer                                                                                              Vice President, Nursing

 

Cottage Hospital

Holly McCormack, MSN, RN                                                    Joe L. Pimentel, MBA, BSN, RN

President & CEO                                                                       Chief Nursing Officer

 

 

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Jonathan T. Huntington, MD, PhD, MPH                                                                                             Karen F. Clements, RN, BSN, MSB, FACHE

Chief Medical Officer                                                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Southern Region – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Maria D. Padin, MD

Chief Medical Officer

 

Elliot Hospital

Kevin P. Desrosiers, MD, MPH                                                Martha Leighton, MS, RN

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Senior VP, Chief Nursing Officer

 

Holly Mintz, MD

VP and CMO, Elliot Ambulatory Care Services

 

Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital, Concord

Powen Hsu, MD                                                                        Brandon Pinard, MBA, BSN, RN

Medical Director                                                                       Chief Nursing Officer

 

Exeter Hospital

Neil Meehan, DO                                                                      Donna McKinney, DNH, RN NE-BC, CPPS

Chief Physician Executive, Exeter Health Resources          VP, Patient Care Services/CNO, Exeter Hospital

 

Melanie Lanier, DO

President, Core Physicians, LLC

 

Michael Schaffer, MD

Chief Medical Officer, Core Physicians, LLC

 

Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Trevor Eide, MD                                                                        Jamie Brave, RN

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

Hampstead Hospital

Malcolm Beaudett, MD                                                           Julie D’Apollo, BSN, RN, PMH-BC

Medical Director                                                                       Chief Nursing Officer

 

Huggins Hospital

John Boornazian, MD                                                              Susan Dionne, RN, BSN, MS

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Vice President, Nursing & Clinical Services

 

Littleton Regional Healthcare

Edward L. Duffy, MD, MBA, FACEP                                        Koren Superchi, RN, MSN

Executive VP/Chief Medical Officer                                       VP, Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer

 

Memorial Hospital

Matthew Dunn, DO, FACEP                                                     Kris Dascoulias, BSN, RN

Chief Medical Information Officer                                        Chief Nursing Officer

 

Monadnock Community Hospital

Daniel Perli, MD, MBA                                                             Vicki Loughery, RN, BSN, MS, CENP

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer/VP, Patient Care Services

 

Mt. Ascutney Hospital & Health Center – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Joseph L. Perras, MD                                                                Amy Visser-Lynch, MSN-ED, RN

CEO, Chief Medical Officer                                                                                                    Chief Nursing Officer

 

New Hampshire Hospital

Jeffrey C. Fetter, MD                                                                Rosemary Costanzo, MSN, RN-BC

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

New London Hospital – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Kirk Dufty, MD, FACEP                                                             Sally Patton, RN, MS

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

Karen Beinhaur, RN

Associate Chief Nursing Officer

 

Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital

A. Deniz Ozel, MD                                                                     Helene Thibodeau, DNP, RN, CRRN, NEA-BC

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Clinical Officer

 

Parkland Medical Center

Martin Johns, MD                                                                     Eileen Keefe, MSN, CNL, NEA-BC

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Thomas Wold, DO, MS                                                             Michelle R Dodd, RN, PhD, CCRN-K

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Timothy Scherer, MD                                                               Romida Sison-Martinez, RN, MBA, MA

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Interim Vice President, Patient Care Services/CNO

 

Speare Memorial Hospital

Joseph Ebner, MD                                                                    Kris Herring, MSN, RN, NE-BC, FACHE

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

St. Joseph Hospital

Alison Madden, MD                                                                 Andrea Erickson, MSN, RN, CNML

Vice President, Medical Affairs                                              Vice President, Patient Care Services/CNO

 

Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital

Ed Laverty, PA-C                                                                        Lindsay A. Lea, RN

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer

 

Valley Regional Hospital

Jocelyn F. Caple, MD, MBA                                              Beverly Rankin, RN, BSN, MSA, NE-BC

Chief Medical Officer/Interim President/CEO                     Chief Nursing Officer

 

Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire – Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Johanna L. Beliveau, DNP, MBA, RN                                                              Cristine Maloney, MD, HMDC

President/CEO                                                                                            Hospice Medical Director

 

Weeks Medical Center

Mark Morgan, MD, FASA                                                        Jennifer Bach-Guss, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CEN

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer/VP, Patient Care Services

 

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Paul Cass, MD                                                                            Sheila Woolley, RN, BSN, MPH, NEA-BC

Chief Medical Officer                                                               Chief Nursing Officer/VP, Patient Care Services

 

Nancy Pettinari, MD, CPE

CMO, Wentworth Health Partners