2015 Report to the Community

Revisiting 20 Years

2 Weeks Medical Center

Change is in the Air20 years—the life and times of a hospital, a community, and its accomplishments—in the Great North Woods.

Change is not new to Weeks. It’s been a constant over the life of this hospital. During the last 20 years, however, Weeks has experienced an amazing array of changes that has dramatically pushed us forward and helped us build the quality hospital we have today.

When I think back over those years I’m proud of the significant progress we’ve made. We’ve increased the services we provide, added new departments, physicians, medical providers, and staff, and extensively expanded and modernized our facility and physicians offices. We also reduced our costs and balanced our budgets—all to the benefit of our community and with the goal of keeping care local.

And local care is what Weeks is all about. This report highlights that commitment and showcases our accomplishments and the people who made them happen. A generation of people has passed through the doors of Weeks during the last 20 years. Your support has helped our hospital grow stronger and secure its future in our community. Thank you for the confidence you placed in your local hospital.

It’s been my pleasure to work at Weeks and be part of this community. There are a lot of great people in the North Country. There’s something very open and friendly about the people here. That’s what makes the area—and our hospital—so special. It’s been a great 20 years… and Weeks is ready to meet the healthcare needs of the next two decades.

With appreciation and thanks

1995

Report to the Community 3

315 Employees the largest employer in the community

2015

4 Weeks Medical Center

Building on a Vision“Everything started with the doors,” said John MacKillop of the numerous renovations that have occurred at Weeks during the last 20 years. “Scott Howe said they were not user friendly, safe, or acceptable. From there we developed a master plan to improve the entire hospital.”

As construction manager/special projects, John was involved in every major physical change to the hospital. Since the master plan was developed in the late 1990s, not an inch of the hospital has gone untouched. More than 20,000 square feet were added to expand services and modernize the building. A biomass facility was built in 2010 and a new parking lot, entrance canopy, and helipad were added in 2015.

The master plan also expanded Weeks beyond the hospital. New physicians office locations were built in Groveton (1998) and Whitefield (2005). In 2012, Weeks added another office in North Stratford, performing renovations to the existing building.

“It’s fitting that my last construction project at the hospital was installing the new front entrance doors,” said John, who retired at the end of 2015. “Everything has come full circle, but we would not have made it to where we are today without Scott Howe’s leadership and vision. He’s always looking forward, moving us to the future. That’s his legacy, and Weeks’ legacy. We’re now built to last.”

Changes have made a huge difference for staff, visitors, and, most importantly, our patients

2015

Report to the Community 5

We Can’t Stop This

Healing

2014

In less than two years, the Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center at Weeks has gone from an idea to a national Center of Distinction.

Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services presented the Wound Healing Center with its 2015 Center of Distinction Award. The Wound Healing Center was recognized for achieving outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction higher than 92 percent, and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 91 percent within 30 median days to heal.

The Wound Healing Center had 2,338 patient visits in 2015 with 302 patients receiving hyperbaric treatments. Patient growth let the center expand its hours from part-time to four and one-half days per week and increase staffing to three registered nurses. The center also earned a second place award for wound care awareness for its overall growth and marketing.

Center of Distinction

2015

6 Weeks Medical Center

2001

Helping PeopleWhen They Need a

Helping HandWhen Weeks was undergoing a major renovation in 2000,

the opportunity to house a full-service dialysis center presented itself. Construction plans were quickly changed to add an additional floor to the building to house the

center. The Fresenius Medical Care/Lancaster Dialysis Unit opened in 2001.

Fresenius Medical Care operates 2,150 dialysis centers across the country. The 10-person Lancaster team, including

nephrologists, registered nurses, dieticians, social workers, and clerks and technicians, helps people who are dealing with renal

failure and chronic kidney disease. The staff at the Lancaster Dialysis Unit sees patients every Monday, Wednesday, and

Friday and provides more than 300 treatments each month.

Weeks is proud to partner with Fresenius and pleased to have helped improve the health of hundreds of people living with kidney disease.

Clinic Manager Corey Turner and a Fresenius dialysis machine.

Orthopedics Care Moving in the Right Direction

2015

“When my knee pain was with me 24-7, I knew it was time to see Dr. Paul Kamins. Dr. Kamins answered all my questions about knee replacement honestly, told me what I could expect from the surgery, and how quickly I would be back on my feet. Everything he told me rang true. Now I’m walking good as new.

“Dr. Kamins was meticulous with my surgery and its follow up. He was always checking on me to make sure I was okay. Having rehab available at Weeks made the whole process easier. The staff was always there for me. Sure there was pain, but the pain led to healing. Now I have renewed energy and movement. I wouldn’t have had my knee replacement performed anywhere else. My only regret: I wish that I had had the surgery sooner.”

—Bob Cusson

Report to the Community 7

Bob Cusson (far right) had a complete knee replacement at Weeks on August 12, 2015. He is a maintenance plumber and was back to work in three weeks. He plans on having his other knee replaced in the summer of 2017.

8 Weeks Medical Center

2005

Whitefield

Gro

veto

n North Stratford

2015

1998

2012

Lancaster

POWERMOVE

2010

Report to the Community 9

Renewable Resources Lead to Energy SavingsHow do you curb soaring energy prices and expand your facility in a volatile energy marketplace? For Weeks, the answer is biomass.

Weeks installed a new power plant backed up by two generators to address normal, life-safety, and critical equipment needs. The heart of new plant was the construction of a new woodchip biomass boiler to heat the hospital. The biomass boiler went online in March 2011.

Since the biomass boiler was installed the hospital has saved $982,000 in energy costs. In 2015 alone, the savings amounted to $160,000. The plant is expected to recoup its investment by 2017, providing long-term savings for the hospital.

The biomass facility was also designed with extra capacity to handle any expansion plans.

10 Weeks Medical Center

Cardiology

Surgery

Podiatry

2000sGrowing TeamsInvesting in talented physicians and technology has been a core component of Weeks’ growth and has allowed the hospital to offer more robust services to the community and keep quality care close to home.

In the last 20 years, podiatry care expanded from one to three physicians, with added outreach services offered in Berlin, Littleton, and Colebrook. Cardiology grew from a part-time outreach clinic to a full-time department with its own in-house physician and staff. General surgery increased the number and variety of procedures it offered while also focusing on preventative services such as colonoscopies. Oncology now brings three Dartmouth-Hitchcock physicians to Weeks three to four times a week and is staffed by three full-time nurses.

The hospital also introduced outreach clinics in child development, pulmonology, sleep medicine, vascular care, and urology to keep care local. Technology also reshaped the hospital through the addition of testing and diagnostic equipment such at MRI, PET CT Scan, and echocardiogram. Telemedicine now brings specialists directly to Weeks through the internet.

Oncology

Report to the Community 11

Long-Lasting CareersWeeks is a great place to work and build a career. Our staff works in a professional, positive, and innovative place where the concept of family is everything. When you work at Weeks, you are cared for, appreciated, and supported. That’s reflected in the longevity of many of our staff.

In 2015, 10 employees were honored for their more than 40 years of loyal service to the hospital and community. Honorees included: Denise Brisson (41 years), Lois Canton (42 years), Renee Hutchinson (44 years), Carrie

Ingerson (41 years), Diana Kenison (43 years), Fran LaDuke (43 years), John MacKillop (42 years), Linda Reichert (43 years), Mona Riendeau (50 years), and Pat Rogers (44 years).  

That number continues to grow. There are many other employees who have been with the hospital for 20, 30, or more years.

“We treat people with respect,” said Linda Rexford, human resources director. “All of us at Weeks, patients and staff, are part of a very interconnected community. We care about people 24 hours a day.”

From left to right: Patricia Rogers, Fran LaDuke, Diana Kenison, Mona Riendeau, John MacKillop, Renee Hutchinson, Lois Canton, Denise Brisson, Linda Reichert, Carrie Ingerson.

12 Weeks Medical Center

2004

Hospitalists Up Patient Care

The hospitalist movement was developed in the early 2000s to oversee and improve care for patients while in the hospital. With fewer primary care doctors available, it became increasingly difficult for providers to see their patients in the hospital and also see other patients in their office. Hospitalists are medical providers who specialize in the care of hospital patients.

Weeks added hospitalist services in 2004 to increase efficiency and ease time constraints for medical providers. Hospitalist care also improved inpatient care and safety by encouraging collaboration, communication, and coordination of all healthcare personnel caring for hospitalized patients. The service also provided more efficient use of hospital resources.

“One of the great benefits of the hospitalist program is that it makes it easier for Weeks to recruit new and more highly qualified physicians,” said Scott Howe, CEO. “Hospitalists are a cost-effective way for us to improve our quality of care, improve treatment processes, and let doctors focus more on patients.”

Report to the Community 13

Out of the RED& Into the BLACK

2015

Weeks Medical Center is in good health—financially speaking. For all of 2015, the hospital ran in the black with revenues ahead of expenditures. “It took good luck and lots of hard work,” said Scott Howe, CEO, about the hospital’s success at getting out of the red.

New services, such as the Wound Healing Center, and better control over expenses contributed to the hospital’s fiscal health.

According to Celeste Pitts, CFO, two big items contributed to Weeks’ fiscal strength: “The hospital’s participation in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Plan allowed us to purchase drugs at a lower cost. This savings permitted us to reallocate funds elsewhere to better serve our patients and provide more comprehensive services. Secondly, the Affordable Care Act dramatically decreased the number of uninsured people, which reduced the amount charity and free medical services the hospital was providing. We now have new revenue sources, more paying customers, and a financially healthy hospital.”

CFO Celeste Pitts kicks her red pen to the curb to celebrate Weeks strong financial health.

14 Weeks Medical Center

Affiliation NationWith the goal of securing healthcare in the North Country, Weeks Medical Center joined forces with Androscoggin Valley Hospital, Littleton Regional Healthcare, and Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital to form the North Country Healthcare affiliation.

North Country Healthcare will serve as the parent organization for the four hospitals and develop a highly coordinated healthcare network that will improve quality, increase efficiencies, and lower the coast of healthcare delivery in the North Country.

“Self determination is important in the changing healthcare landscape,” says Scott Howe, CEO. “The North Country Healthcare affiliation will allow Weeks and our partner hospitals to stand up for ourselves and survive the rough terrain of the healthcare marketplace. It will also help us preserve access to high-quality, personal, and affordable healthcare for all residents of our region.

“The future of healthcare in the North Country will be determined here because of the affiliation,” says Howe, “and secure the future of Weeks Medical Center.”

In the spirit of cooperation, the leaders of four North Country hospitals sign an the affiliation agreement at the Mountain View Grand Resort in June 2015. Seated from far left Peter Gosline of Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, Warren West of Little Regional Healthcare, Scott Howe of Weeks Medical Center, and Russ Keane of Androscoggin Valley Hosptial.

2015

Weeks Medical Center Joins Forces with Three North Country Hospitals

Photo by Normand Labonville Photography

Report to the Community 15

Dine with UsThe Getaway Café has come a long way. In the last 20 years, the cafeteria’s square footage has more than doubled (also adding windows and a new serving line), the kitchen has been modernized, and menu choices have been expanded to include healthier and more varied food choices. Daily menu specials have been expanded to three or four different meals per day, with one option always being less than 500 calories.

Two staff dieticians now plan food choices for both the cafeteria and inpatient service. Refinement of menus is ongoing to meet all federal dietary guidelines to help everyone eat healthier and meet proper nutrition needs. After all, nutrition is the key to good health.

In 2015, the Getaway Café served 39,226 meals to patients, staff, and visitors.

2000s

16 Weeks Medical Center

Technology is GoodImagine getting the best possible care from a specialist you might never meet in person. It’s not only possible but a reality at Weeks through telemedicine. Telemedicine is the use of technology to bring high-value specialist care to the North Country.

Launched in 2014, Weeks patients can now access specialists in dermatology, rheumatology, pediatric psychology, nephrology, and critical emergency care via video teleconference. Video monitors

and specialty designed medical equipment allow specialists to monitor vital signs and provide a thorough examination from a distant location.

“We pushed hard to bring telemedicine to Weeks,” said Scott Howe, CEO. “Technology is allowing us to provide higher levels of care locally and save our patients time and money in travel, lost work hours, and time away from home. These services also make healthcare more affordable, reducing costs for everyone involved.”

2014

Report to the Community 17

A Community GivesEverything we do at Weeks Medical Center is for the benefit of our community. Through your generous donations, we’ve made a tremendous difference in the lives and well-being of North Country residents. Thank you to all our donors for your generous contributions and support. Your gifts help make our hospital and our community stronger.

If you’re considering a gift, please use the enclosed envelope to make your tax-deductible donation.

Mr. & Mrs. David AmadonMr. & Mrs. Ronald Bailey Joyce BallMr. & Mrs. Richard BelmorePolly BerryMr. & Mrs. William Bishop Mr. & Mrs. George BlakesleeJohn BowenMary BruniPhilip ChaseMr. & Mrs. William DeCourceyDr. & Mrs. Elwin FalkenhamMr. & Mrs. Charles Fitch Mr. & Mrs. Richard ForcePatricia GilmanMr. & Mrs. David HassMr. & Mrs. Stanley HolzIrene Hutchinson Mr. & Mrs. Stanford Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kelleher

Mr. & Mrs. Bernard LabountyMr. & Mrs. Richard MahnFrancine Marceau Mr. & Mrs. Brian NavinBetty NewellMr. & Mrs. Jack NewtonDr. & Mrs. David PelkowskiSally PrattMr. & Mrs. Norman Procter Louis TanguayDenise ThibeaultEdith Tucker Robert TuckerMr. & Mrs. Murray Vashaw Donna Walker John Weeks, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. John W. WeeksMr. & Mrs. Stephen WeeksMinnie WhiteMr. & Mrs. Steven Young

I’ve been fortunate to work at Weeks for 42 years and know from experience how valuable our hospital is to people of the North Country. It’s great to be part of a community where people really care about each other.

—Carrie Ingerson, patient account manager

2015

talents

…and a Special Thank You!

Mr. & Mrs. Paul BernardDr. Cooley & Dr. BuzzellMr. Davidge III and Ms. LottMr. & Mrs. Rockwood Dunham FirstTracks Marketing GroupMarguerite GagneDr. GreenbergMr. Hallowell and Ms. MorrisonDr. & Mrs. Paul Kamins Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Kelly

Lancaster Lions ClubMs. Anne Morgan Mrs. Celeste PittsMr. & Mrs. David RexfordMr. Erling R. RobertsDr. & Mrs. William SchanlaberWayn-o’s Disposal ServiceMr. & Mrs. Sinclair WeeksMr. & Mrs. William WeeksGomer Wesley Foundation

Allen BouthillierMr. More & Mrs. Weeks Sherill More

Dr. & Mrs. Lars E. NielsonPassumpsic Savings Bank

Mr. Andrew EdmondsMs. Margaret FischangMr. Daniel HebertMr. & Mrs. Robert Stiles

Mr. & Mrs. Bradley ThayerMs. Weeks and Mr. ShaneMr. & Mrs. Stephen Wheeler

My position at Weeks has been very rewarding with great professional advancement. It’s been pretty amazing that someone believed in me enough to put me in a position of great responsibility. Forty years have flown by and I am very proud to be part of the Weeks family.

—Denise Brisson, surgical services manager

18 Weeks Medical Center

CEO Circle of Friends ($250 to 499)

Chairman’s Club ($500 to $999)

Trustee Society ($1,000 or more)

2015CE

O C

ircle of Friends

Cha

irm

an’s Club

Trus

te

e Society

Roberta Bradstreet Mr. & Mrs. Robert Travers

Karen Clauss Northway Bank Mr. & Mrs. Robin Reynolds

Ginny Crane Littleton Coin Company NH Council of Deliberation Olive Branch Chapter 1 Mr. & Mrs. Philip Rozzi W. W. Berry Transportation

Pauline Golden Mrs. & Mr. Patricia O’Connor

Paul & Esther Greenwood Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Wheeler

Pat Gregory Mr. & Mrs. Donald MacDonald

Robert Grondin Mr. & Mrs. David Rexford

Kevin Kopp Mr. & Mrs. Robert Maroon

Christine Martin Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Martin Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Mercier Kelly Anne Moores Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Moores Mr. & Mrs. Darrell Powell Craig Sylvestre & Marta Pinzon

John Pepau Frances Pepau

Betty Peterson Edna Young and Family

Betty Poliquin Mr. & Mrs. Peter Pilgrim

Peggy Roberts Mr. Erling R. Roberts

Allison Rogers, Merritt & Mae Holcomb Patricia Rogers

Christy St. Onge Mr. & Mrs. David Miles Mr. & Mrs. Mike St. Onge

Linda Tanguay Wilma Martin Louis Tanguay Town and Country Inn and Resort

Beatrice D. Weeks Mr. & Mrs. Sinclair Weeks

John W. Weeks II Mr. & Mrs. David Weeks

…and a Special Thank You!

Report to the Community 19

In Memory Of…

20 Weeks Medical Center

Thanks!Thank you to all the volunteers who contribute their time and talents in support of our patients, hospital, and community.

Norma AhernErnest AngelicolaIris AmadonLucy ArizziSharon AtkinsonVicky BaileyJoyce BallBethany BelmoreMelissa BorowskiMichelle BraultHeidi BrooksMary BruniShirley CallLois CardinColleen CassadyHallie ChanceyTerry ClangMargo ClicheMadeleine CloutierCara ColbyZachary ColbyLori ComeauPatricia CotterRichard CotterSara CotterRoger CoutureAlex Curtis Jr.Payton Curtis

Carol DeRocherBob DeRocherCasey DowlandJan DyerBrian FinnMary FitchBrenda FontaineLouise ForceMarilyn FossCaroline FosterCamille FrenetteSeth FrinkLynn FullerMarguerite GagneGinny GainerHenrietta (Sis) GavettAnn GilbertBill GradyReal GroleauSuzanne GroleauJulie GrondinCarol HaasTerry HamiltonBarbara HamptonJim HamptonLisa HamptonLorraine HenryDianne Herbert

Sheila HicksJeannette HouleDeborah HuntingtonScott JohnsonSharon JohnsonLisa KlefosRosalind LaddPaul LaDukeJoseph LafuzeMary LafuzeArt LangevinSimone Le MoalClaire MacIlvaneBenjamin MacKillopKaren MaguireBarbara MartinRev. Matt MasonVernon MatsonTom MonahanBaylee Monley Jr.

Debbie MulcahyGretchen MuzzeyIrene NadeauMaria NadeauNate PelchatBrenda PineoHarold PineoPhil PinetteLise PotterKaycey RaimerPatti RexfordAmy ReynoldsAbigail RidleyBethany RidleyEvelyn Robbennolt-JonesBrett Y. RobertsKate RosserBeverly RutherfordKaren RyderMarcia Shaw

Lauryn St. CyrBrenda StewartKatrina StewartRobert St. JeanKathy St. OngeJean TenneyMarie ThompsonSharon ThurstonJohn TolmanNancy UnderhillLois VashawRev. Greg VigneMary Ann WainwrightBarbara WheelockBrandon White Jr.Alice WilkinsonCindy WingetRachel WohldSandra Yunghans

“I believe in supporting Weeks. I work as a volunteer to benefit the hospital and its patients. Volunteering is therapeutic. It feels good. I get more out of it than the time I put in.”

—Ernie Angelicola, seated third from right

2015

Report to the Community 21

2015

Allergy/Otolaryngology Richard Kardell, DO Tiffani Witt, PA-C

Anesthesia James Mackay, CRNA Mark Morgan, MD Larry Walker, CRNA

Behavioral Health Shawna Delworth, LCMHC, MLADC Jennifer Parent, PMHNP Evelyn Robbennolt-Jones, LICSW

Cardiology William Clutterbuck, MD, FACS Elizabeth LaPointe, PA-C Anil K. Mukerjee, MD David Pelkowski, MD Emil Pollak, Jr, MD

Child Development Joseph Keenan, PhD James McGuire, MD

Emergency Services Jean Benson, MD Ralph Broadwater, MD Jay Dege, MD Jeffrey Johnson, MD Mederic LeBlanc, MD William Sargent, MD Curtis Smith MD Richard Yee, MD

Family Practice Glenn Adams, DO Jack Avery, DO Gina Bedell, APRN John Ford, MD Sonya Gilbert, PA-C Mary Beth Kenison, APRN Christopher Laurent, APRN Amber Schmidt, DO Angelo Vozzella, PA-C

General Surgery Maude Keeshin, MD Walter Voigt, MD

Hospitalists Todd Hope, MD Tammy Lazott, APRN Stephen Regan, MD

Internal Medicine Wendy Gair Muello, MD

Obstetrics/Gynecology/ Medical Acupuncture Lars Nielson, MD

Oncology Marc Gautier, MD Gregory Ripple, MD Frederick Tucker Jr., MD

Orthopedic Surgery Paul Kamins, MD Anna Lingelbach-Lorenz, PA-C

Pathology Charles Brown, MD

Pediatric Cardiology Michael Flanagan, MD

Pediatric Medicine Jayne Tarkleson, DO

Podiatry Hal Goolman, DPM W. Kemp Schanlaber, DPM Tara Soraghan, DPM

Pulmonology Peggy Simon, MD

Radiology Mark Guilfoyle, DO

Sleep Medicine Joseph Della Valla, MD

Telemedicine Daniel Albert, MD (rheumatology) Elizabeth Brant, MD (nephrology) Michael Shane Chapman, MD (dermatology) Craig Donnelly, MD (psychiatry) Martha Graber, MD (nephrology) Thomas Kaneko, MD (nephrology)

Our Healthcare Professionals

22 Weeks Medical Center

2015Cancer/Oncology Treatment

Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac Services

Ear, Nose and Throat

Echocardiography

Emergency Services

Family Practice

Gynecology

Hyperbaric Therapy

Internal Medicine

Laboratory

Mammography

Medical Acupuncture

MRI Service

Nuclear Medicine

Occupational Health Services

Occupational Therapy

Orthopedics

Osteopathic Medicine

Pediatrics

PET/CT Service

Pharmacy

Physical Therapy

Podiatry

Pulmonary Function Testing

Radiology

Sentinel Node Biopsy

Speech Therapy

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

Surgical Services

Ultrasound

Wound Care

Med

ical S

ervic

es

Stanley Holz, Chair Donald Crane, Vice Chair Sarah Desrochers, Treasurer Keith Young, SecretaryRuby Berryman Scott Burns George Cook Dennis Couture William Everleth Patrick Kelly Dana Muzzey Cindy Normandeau Lisa TetreaultDavid Atkinson, Member at Large

Hospital RepresentativesScott Howe, Chief Executive Officer Celeste Pitts, Chief Financial Officer Lars Nielson, MD, Chief Medical Officer Donna Walker, RN, Chief Nurse Executive Mark Morgan, MD, Medical Staff President

Honorary Trustees Rebecca Weeks Sherrill More, Ph.D. Patsy Pilgrim

Board of Trustees

Report to the Community 23

2015

Statement of OperationsNet Patient Revenue .............................. $39,255,625 Free Medical Services Provided

Emergency Services Costs Not Recovered .....................................$793,448

Subsidized Health Services ...................$180,079 Cost of Charity Care Provided .............$472,354 Shortfall from Government

Insurances ..........................................$3,320,665 Case Management Services ..................$322,949 Other Community Services ..................$478,856

Total Community Benefits .....................$5,568,351

Admissions............................................................. 1,224Emergency Room Visits ..................................... 6,308Surgical Cases ........................................................ 1,192Imaging Exams ....................................................11,833Lab Tests ............................................................ 267,887Physical/Occupational/

Speech Therapy Procedures ........................24,048Outpatient Visits ................................................20,835Physician Practice Visits ...................................51,874

24 Weeks Medical Center

173 Middle StreetLancaster, NH 03584

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