LACONIA, NH –  On Monday, the LRGHealthcare Board of Directors voted to merge and consolidate several medical facilities and programs within their network to address unexpected financial challenges that have emerged over the last couple of months.
“The changes being implemented by the Board of Directors are focused on maintaining patient’s access to care, as well as their access to their medical providers, and at the same time reducing the cost of maintaining the LRGHealthcare network,” said Kevin W. Donovan, President and CEO of LRGHealthcare.  “We want our patients to know that the high level of care they expect from LRGHealthcare will continue uninterrupted as we make this transition.”
The changes approved by the LRGHealthcare Board of Directors are aimed at creating $7 million in annualized improvement. The consolidation of services and program closures Include:
Moultonborough Family Practice will be closed effective Friday, March 30.  Moultonborough Family Practice is staffed by Carolyn Brown, APRN, and she will join Belknap Family Health – Meredith starting Monday, April 2.  Richard Young, APRN will no longer be affiliated with LRGHealthcare, as he joins our valued partner, HealthFirst.  Both providers are welcoming patients at those new locations.  All patients will be notified by letter as to the new service locations of their providers.

Newfound Family Practice in Bristol will be closed effective Friday, March 30.  Dr. Peter Doane and Laurie Jorgenson, APRN currently staff Newfound Family Practice, and they will continue to see patients starting April 2 as part of Westside Healthcare at Franklin Regional Hospital. Both providers are welcoming patients at that new location.  All patients will be notified by letter as to the new service locations of their providers.
Laconia Clinic Pediatrics will be closed effective Friday, March 30.  The Laconia Clinic Board is working with LRGH to determine the future of the current providers.  All patients will be notified by letter as to the new service locations of their providers.
Franklin Surgical Services and Operating Rooms will be closed effective Friday, April 27.  This closure will focus all of LRGHealthcare’s surgical services at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia and the Hillside Ambulatory Surgery Center in Gilford.  Currently, Franklin Surgical Services provides only elective surgery, which will now be performed at the remaining LRGH sites.
Laconia Clinic Lab will be consolidated with the LRGH Lab effective Wednesday, February 28, but a blood draw station will remain.  All test samples will be sent to LRGH for testing.
LRGH Family Birthplace will be closed effective the end of May.  LRGHealthcare and Concord Hospital will be announcing a collaboration to provide labor and delivery services to patients in the LRGHealthcare service area.  More details will follow.
LRGHealthcare is also implementing workforce reductions affecting 16 employees.  The workforce reductions result from the elimination of administrative positions and program restructuring.  LRGH Human Resources will work closely with employees whose jobs have been affected by this reduction to review current openings within LRGHealthcare and other providers for potential placement, as well as assisting with support from NH Employment Security and the Employee Assistance Program.
“We are profoundly aware of the impact our decisions have on the lives of our co-workers and their families, and we will make every effort to support all LRGHealthcare employees through these difficult changes,” said Donovan.  “We are fully committed to working with affected employees to minimize the effects of this change as much as possible.”