VNAs in Laconia and Wolfeboro Announce Planned Merger
After over a year of discussions, Community Health & Hospice Inc. and the VNA/Hospice of Southern Carroll County & Vicinity have announced their intent to merge. The CHH Board of Directors approved the merger on Jan. 12; the VNA/HSCC board on Jan. 14. The latter's vote triggers a 120-day review period by the New Hampshire Attorney General's office that will include public hearings at dates and locations to be announced.
There is no expected reduction in staff or services as a result of the merger, and the combined agency will be headed by CH&H Executive Director Margaret Franckhauser. The organization will have a new name and will retain physical locations in Laconia and Wolfeboro.
According to Margaret, "It's a strategic move that guarantees our future on both sides of the lake. Even if health care reform didn't pass, Medicare is running out of money and every year we tighten our belts and every year we get cuts (in Medicare) and we have to figure out how to do this five, 10, 15 years from now with less money." Lee White, president of VNA-HSCC, said "When we looked closer it was remarkable how much we had to gain and how similar our two organizations really are."