Four New Hampshire hospitals — Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, Littleton Regional Healthcare in Littleton and Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook — have received approval to affiliate, according to the Berlin Daily Sun.
Under the affiliation agreement, the four hospitals will form the nonprofit parent organization North Country Healthcare, which will coordinate the planning, administration, purchasing, human resources, marketing, finance and contracting activities for each.
Charitable Trusts Division Executive Director Thomas Donovan approved the hospitals' proposal to affiliate, noting in his written decision the hospitals had met the minimum standards for such an agreement. He also said the affiliation will yield benefits to the community, including increased cooperation among the hospitals, improved access to medical specialists and enhanced operational efficiencies.
The four hospitals entered into the affiliation agreement on June 30, 2015. With Mr. Donovan's approval, they now require approval from the New Hampshire Attorney General's antitrust division. The affiliation is expected to be finalized and operating in 2016.
Pending agreement by the new board, Warren West, CEO of Littleton Regional Healthcare, will serve as CEO of North Country Healthcare. Russ Keene, CEO of Androscoggin Valley Hospital, will serve as president and CFO. North Country Healthcare will be headquartered in Whitefield, N.H.