MCH News Archives

“As your community hospital, we frequently and effectively provide care for those with infectious diseases. We have been preparing for the potential presence of the virus in our broader community and we are confident in our ability to maintain the health and safety of our staff, patients and visitors. As a reminder, we all must be vigilant in following appropriate steps to protect ourselves, including physical distancing, and hand hygiene standards. I am so proud of our team at MCH and grateful for their amazing dedication and teamwork over the past few weeks. We will get through this together.” Cyndee McGuire, President and CEO.

Thank you so much for your interest and care. Orders for standard/disposable masks are on long back-orders, due to both demand and supply chain issues. Other hospitals across the country are reporting the same supply concerns. According to the CDC, fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted.

“Prior to modern disposable masks, washable fabric masks were standard use for hospitals,” said Dr. Michael Lindberg, Chief Medical Officer for MCH. “We will be able to sterilize these masks and use them repeatedly as needed. While it’s less than ideal, we want to do our best to protect our staff and patients during this pandemic.”

A group of community volunteers have stepped up to coordinate this effort for MCH. If you are interested in sewing masks, the pattern and instructions can be found here.

If you have questions, please email or call Sadie Halliday at (603) 660-2321 or Sadie.Halliday@beangroup.com, or Cathy Maki at Cathy.Maki@mchmail.org.

PLEASE do not bring the masks directly to the hospital; we are trying to limit traffic as much as possible.

We are using five community drop off locations:

Grapevine Family & Community Resource Center (Aiken Street, Antrim)
First Service Title Company (Main Street, Jaffrey)
Peterborough Town Library (Concord Street in Peterborough)
Jaffrey Grade School
Rindge Memorial school (Conant Way, Jaffrey)

Each building has an overhang and there will be a container in which to leave the masks. The masks will be collected daily and delivered to the hospital. When you leave masks, could you please leave your name, address and phone number so that we may acknowledge your generous contribution.

[post_title] => MCH is Welcoming Fabric Masks [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => mch-is-welcoming-fabric-masks-from-our-community-as-we-prepare-for-covid-19 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-07-03 18:15:24 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-07-03 22:15:24 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=29519 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 29518 [post_author] => 9192192 [post_date] => 2020-03-19 12:03:18 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-03-19 16:03:18 [post_content] => Yesterday, the White House announced a call-to-action for anyone who can donate any expendable personal protective equipment (PPE) to address the nationwide shortages that healthcare providers are facing. Monadnock Community Hospital echoes the urgent local need and requests donations of unused masks, goggles, face shields, isolation gowns, gloves and hand sanitizer.

Donations can be dropped off at Monadnock Community Hospital, Loading Dock #2, from: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday.

"Monadnock Community Hospital has made strategic decisions and adjustments to best utilize our supplies. There is a nationwide shortage of PPE supplies and we need to address our depleting stock," said Cynthia McGuire, President and CEO. "No donation is too small." For questions or if you would like to make donation arrangements for drop off at an alternative location or time, please contact Laura A. Gingras, VP, Philanthropy and Community Relations at: 603-924-4666 or Laura.Gingras@mchmail.org

Directions:

Monadnock Community Hospital, 452 Old Street Rd, Peterborough, NH. Once on the MCH campus, take your first left and drive to the far left side of the campus. Ring the bell at Loading Dock #2. Visit COVID-19 Main Info Page [post_title] => Requesting Donations for COVID Prevention [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => requesting-donations-of-unused-masks-face-shields-isolation-gowns-goggles-gloves-and-hand-sanitizer [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-12-26 14:08:27 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-12-26 19:08:27 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=29518 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 29516 [post_author] => 9192192 [post_date] => 2020-03-18 11:45:38 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-03-18 15:45:38 [post_content] => At Monadnock Community Hospital, our first concern remains taking care of our community. Our Incident Command Emergency Preparedness team is meeting around the clock to plan, prepare, and coordinate our efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our clinical leaders continue to be in daily contact with the NH Department of Public Health, the NH Hospital Association as well as area hospitals and healthcare providers. And we are using the most current precautions and information to care for our patients, staff and visitors.

Nonessential appointment, procedures and elective surgeries postponed:

In addition to the changes that were in Tuesday’s press release (please see our website), we have made additional temporary changes at MCH to protect our patients and employees from the spread of, and potential exposure to, coronavirus (COVID-19). All nonessential appointments, procedures, and elective surgeries are postponed until further notice. This applies to all offices on the Monadnock Community Hospital campus and satellite offices. This decision was made under the advice of the American College of Surgeons and the US Surgeon General, and in conjunction with MCH’s medical staff. Our focus is to protect patients and employees as well as to conserve critical supplies. Hospitals throughout the state and country are taking similar action. MCH staff is reaching out to patients who have nonessential appointments to advise them on next steps. Those procedures which are immediately medically necessary will continue. MCH continues to provide regular emergency and urgent care. Anyone with questions about an upcoming appointment or procedure should call their provider. We continue to evaluate the situation and will adjust accordingly.

Symptoms and Access to Care:

We are not routinely providing screening tests for COVID-19. The COVID-19 test kits are limited and needed for patients who have symptoms and have been evaluated by their clinician. If you develop the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, please call your primary care clinician before going to their office or to the Emergency Department. A clinician order is needed for all tests and MCH has the ability to test for COVID-19. If you have traveled to/from countries with a COVID-19 Travel Advisory and develop symptoms of a fever or respiratory illness within 14 days of your travel, contact your primary care provider for evaluation. If you do not have a primary care provider call Monadnock Internal Medicine at 603-924-4671, Jaffrey Family Medicine at 603-532-8775, or Antrim Medical Group at 603-588-4200. If you have general questions or concerns, please call 2-1-1, a hot-line staffed by the NH Division of Public Health Services. We have heard from many community businesses and organizations that have offered resources such as facilities and equipment, we are grateful for all of the outreach. Thank you to our community dentists and their staff for their contribution of masks and supplies. We appreciate everyone’s support and cooperation during this time. This is an amazing community and together we will get through this. We have an amazing team of people at MCH who are working very hard together every day, around the clock. Taking care of all of our patients during this time is our top priority. I want to recognize our clinicians, our staff, and our entire team. People are stepping up every minute and are working in positions that they may not normally work in. Our team has kicked into action proactively preparing our contingency plans for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients. We are hearing words of gratitude and thanks every day from our patients and supporters in the community. Your words and support mean so much to us and I thank you. We will share changes and information as it becomes available. You can find more information and resources about COVID-19 at www.nh.gov/covid19 and www.cdc.gov as well as our website. You can download a copy of this release here. View COVID-19 Main Page [post_title] => Message from MCH CEO Cyndee McGuire: Strengthening Our Community's Response to COVID-19 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => a-message-from-cynthia-k-mcguire-fache-president-and-ceo [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-10-17 16:08:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-10-17 20:08:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=29516 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 29514 [post_author] => 9192192 [post_date] => 2020-03-16 11:30:03 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-03-16 15:30:03 [post_content] =>

At Monadnock Community Hospital, our first concern is taking care of you and our community.

We opened our Incident Command Emergency Preparedness on February 26th, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We are meeting around the clock to plan, prepare, and coordinate our efforts to care for our patients and community. Our clinical leaders have been in daily contact with the NH Department of Public Health, the NH Hospital Association as well as area hospitals and healthcare providers, to share the most current precautions and information with our patients, staff and visitors. It is critically important that we all take care of ourselves. In addition to frequent hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes, we all must practice social distancing. Please limit exposure to others as much as possible. As uncomfortable as this is, we must do what we can to control the spread of COVID-19. Thank you all for your cooperation as we work to keep the community calm, informed and healthy. I have full confidence in our fine medical staff and healthcare team at MCH and I am grateful for their dedication and teamwork. We have made some important temporary changes at MCH to protect our patients and employees from the spread of, and potential exposure to, coronavirus (COVID-19).

Visitor Policy:

Monadnock Community Hospital has instituted a limited visitation policy for all visitors:
One healthy birthing partner will be permitted for Maternity Delivery patients.
One healthy person may escort a patient to the Emergency Department.
One healthy visitor may accompany a patient to our Oncology and Infusion Therapy Center.
One healthy visitor at a time may visit patients on Comfort Measures Only.
Other extenuating circumstances will be at the discretion of the nursing supervisor or administrator.

MCH Entrance Restrictions:

Entrances to our buildings have been limited to the following:
Hospital Main Entrance
Emergency Department Entrance
Oncology and Infusion Therapy Center Entrance
Bond Wellness Center Entrance

In addition to limiting our entrances, we are screening everyone who comes into the hospital for fever, cough, and travel. This includes employees, patients and visitors.

Bond Wellness Center Fitness Program Closure:

We made the decision to temporarily close the Fitness portion of the Bond Wellness Center; this includes all membership access to the Pools, Classes, etc. Learn more.

Volunteer Program and Use of Conference Rooms:

We have temporary suspended our Volunteer Program as well as the use of our Conference Rooms for outside groups.

Symptoms and Access to Care:

Most patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 have shown the following symptoms:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

If you develop these symptoms, please call your primary care provider before going to their office or to the Emergency Department. If you have traveled to/from countries with a COVID-19 Travel Advisory and develop symptoms of a fever or respiratory illness within 14 days of your travel, contact your primary care provider for evaluation. If you do not have a primary care provider or have questions or concerns, please call 2-1-1, a hot-line staffed by the NH Division of Public Health Services. We will share changes and information as it becomes available. You can find more information and resources about COVID-19 at www.nh.gov/covid19 and www.cdc.gov as well as our website. You can download a copy of this release here. Back to COVID-19 Main Page [post_title] => Updated Visitor Policy at MCH: Ensuring Safety During COVID-19 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => limited-entrances-visitor-policy-updates-covid-19 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-09-10 15:46:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-09-10 19:46:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=29514 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 38817 [post_author] => 9192204 [post_date] => 2019-04-18 14:00:28 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-04-18 18:00:28 [post_content] => [post_title] => Heartfelt Stories - Cancer Care Close to Home: Mary's Journey of Strength and Healing [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => patient-stories-bock-2019 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-08-29 09:49:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-29 13:49:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=38817 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 38816 [post_author] => 9192204 [post_date] => 2019-04-17 13:59:51 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-04-17 17:59:51 [post_content] => [post_title] => Heartfelt Stories - Against All Odds: Michael's Resilience Through Life's Challenges [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => patient-stories-mika-2019 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-08-29 09:51:24 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-29 13:51:24 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/patient-stories-delpapa-2024-copy/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 38811 [post_author] => 9192204 [post_date] => 2019-04-16 12:47:30 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-04-16 16:47:30 [post_content] => [post_title] => Heartfelt Stories - Home is Where Her Heart Is: Samantha's Health Journey at MCH [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => patient-stories-krook-2019 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-12-17 14:28:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-17 19:28:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/patient-stories-delpapa-2024-copy/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 24985 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2019-02-05 12:05:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-02-05 17:05:00 [post_content] => Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and GraniteOne Health have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to better serve the health care needs of NH residents and communities. Learn More [post_title] => Combining for a Healthier NH [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => combining-for-a-healthier-nh [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-08-27 16:29:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-27 20:29:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=24985 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 18137 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2018-12-03 11:22:46 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-12-03 16:22:46 [post_content] =>

Welcome to Monadnock Community Hospital's Smoke-Free Campus! As of January 1, 2019, our hospital is committed to providing a breath of fresh air for everyone by becoming a smoke-free environment. Under this new policy, smoking and the use of tobacco products are strictly prohibited on Monadnock Community Hospital property. This includes all areas such as parking lots, sidewalks, and green spaces. Our decision to implement this policy is rooted in our dedication to fostering a healthy and safe environment for our employees, patients, and visitors, promoting positive health behaviors throughout our community. For more information about our new smoke-free campus policy, feel free to visit our front desk or give us a call at (603) 924-7191. We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for helping us create a healthier and more vibrant atmosphere for everyone at Monadnock Community Hospital. [post_title] => Smoke-Free [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => smoke-free [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-01-30 12:03:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-01-30 17:03:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=18137 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [10] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 17980 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2018-11-27 11:00:16 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-11-27 16:00:16 [post_content] => [post_title] => Affordable Care Act [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => affordable-care-act [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-01-30 10:41:14 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-01-30 15:41:14 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=17980 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [11] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 38834 [post_author] => 9192204 [post_date] => 2018-04-18 17:53:56 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-04-18 21:53:56 [post_content] => [post_title] => Surgical Excellence at MCH: A Hidden Gem in New England [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => quality-spotlight-surgery-2018 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-08-21 18:03:18 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-21 22:03:18 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/primary-care-2018-copy/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 12 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 29523 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2020-03-23 10:08:20 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-03-23 14:08:20 [post_content] => Monadnock Community Hospital was notified yesterday by the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that a patient who was tested at our hospital is positive for COVID‐19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. All proper precautions were taken with this patient to ensure the least amount of risk to our patients, colleagues and visitors. The team was prepared to care for this patient and followed protocols appropriately. Our preparedness efforts around the virus are in line with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and DHHS guidelines. We are unable to provide specific information on the patient. We are working with DHHS to evaluate and understand if there are people who have been in close contact with this patient who may have had exposure.

“As your community hospital, we frequently and effectively provide care for those with infectious diseases. We have been preparing for the potential presence of the virus in our broader community and we are confident in our ability to maintain the health and safety of our staff, patients and visitors. As a reminder, we all must be vigilant in following appropriate steps to protect ourselves, including physical distancing, and hand hygiene standards. I am so proud of our team at MCH and grateful for their amazing dedication and teamwork over the past few weeks. We will get through this together.” Cyndee McGuire, President and CEO.

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“I’ve worked at some big hospitals over the years,” says John, MCH’s Director of Perioperative Services. “MCH’s surgical staff and state-of-the-art facilities rival any of them.”

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