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If you need assistance with the public file, please contact Lucia Seavey at 603-356-8870 or office@wmwv.com.

If you need assistance please contact Lucia Seavey at 603-356-8870 or e-mail office@wmwv.com.

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MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN NORTH CONWAY SPEAKS ABOUT PLANS TO RESUME “NORMAL”OPERATIONS

In the past 24 hours, the state has reported 44 new cases and 6 new deaths from COVID-19.  Tim Kershner, Director of Relations and public affairs joined the team at Memorial Hospital in January of last year; coming to us from Penn State University where he served as their Director of strategic communications. 

Since March he has had quite the experience with his new job.  Taking steps toward a new unknown normal is tricky and here’s what he has to say:  “Memorial Hospital is going to follow the recommendations from the CDC and the New Hampshire Department of Health when we start to look at reopening.  But I can tell you that when we do release our plans for resuming operations,   patients can look to be welcomed back in phases with procedures and surgeries where further delay could cause some adverse consequences taking the highest priority.”  Knowing patients are still having troubles unrelated to Coronavirus is a serious concern.

Tim Kershner has been dedicated to our health system even before he arrived and his quote from the mainehealth.org website shows his enthusiasm for our community and the strength of Memorial Hospital.  “Memorial Hospital is an organization that has long delivered great care, and coming here to tell that story and keep the organization connected to its patients and the larger community is a tremendous opportunity,” said Kershner. “With the backing of MaineHealth, the region’s premier health system, the future is very bright here, and I’m excited to be a part of it.” 

Kershner is now part of history in the Mount Washington Valley.  He is currently using local media outlets to relay information and help our community.   In an informative recent interview on WMWV’s drive time segment, his colleagues President Art Mathisen and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matthew Dunn and Emergency Management Coordinator Will Owen were available to let the Mount Washington Valley know what we can expect at this time from the hospital.  They go on to explain that they’re doing everything they can that’s clinically safe for patients who walk in the door in urgent or essential matters.  That current patient concerns are also theirs, even now.

But how do we move forward?  Tim Kershner goes on: “We do expect that when we start to resume normal operations, we’ll do it in phases, with the realization that COVID-19 will be part of our lives for some time to come.”    

NH is waiting until tomorrow to get Governor Sununu’s orders regarding the the extention of New Hampshire’s  emergency orders.  In theory, public health officials are ready to preform  1,500 test per-day and that the addition of five new testing sites would make that possible.  He also notes the growing cases in Massachusetts , the outbreaks in Salem and Dover senior facilities but says that the percentage of positive cases is only improving. 

Stay tuned for more details.

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THE NORTH CONWAY VISITING NURSE HOME CARE AND HOSPICE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY

There are many heroes in our area and the Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of North Conway employs many of them including Sandra Ruka, Executive Director.  She says it’s a whole new world for the non-profit and its employees.  “Coronavirus has definitely affected all our operations from office staff to clinical.  We have very much a reduced workforce in the office.  Everyone else is working remotely. Our clinicians are pretty much all working out seeing patients.”  Sandra goes on to explain that the business itself hasn’t been affected by the virus; and that they’re fortunate to have kept their same level of service without turning anyone away for home service or hospice care.  “However it is a vastly different world with everybody working remotely and following all the guidelines that we need to to protect our staff and our patients.”

The Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice provides a huge array of services from skilled nursing and home maker related duties to physical, occupational and speech therapy to end of life care.  The need to visit client homes is inevitable.  It’s one thing to practice social distancing, but what happens when home visits need to happen despite the pandemic?  And what happens, especially, if Coronavirus is detected in the residence?

Executive Director Ruka outlines for us the protocol for Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice staff is to make those visits wearing full protective PPE gear and they help the families of the patients too.  “Thanks to the effort of an amazing group of volunteers we’ve been able to provide cloth masks to all our patients and their family members.”   Yesterday the organization’s  first “dream team” started making an emergency supply of Tyvek protective gowns to ensure the safety of the clinical staff and clients. 

In a recent post on the Visiting Nurse Home Care Hospice of Carroll County they thank their staff with the following message: “Thankful for our amazing staff selflessly serving the home care needs of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We celebrate and recognize the contributions of the nurses, home health aides, homemakers, support staff, social workers, therapists, and hospice workers who continue to provide care to clients in their homes and in keeping the office running smoothly.  We would also like to extend our thanks to the volunteers who have made hundreds of masks to keep our staff and clients safe.  We thank them for fulfilling our mission in these most difficult times, providing exceptional home health care enabling independent living and quality of life for our clients and their families.”

For more information about the Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice organization, please visit: www.vnhch.org.

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UPDATE FROM THE FRYEBURG FAIR

In the past few weeks the Lancaster, Sandwich and Stratham Fairs have been cancelled.  It’s not just because of the virus, some fairs depend on advanced advertising money and this year, with closed businesses, it’s just not happening. 

Fryeburg Fair’s website is counting down the days to the fair and today it reads 159. Going strong since 1851, it’s the largest agricultural fair in Maine and is attended by over 225,000 people yearly.  Over the years the nightly shows have brought in names like Charlie Daniels, Clint Black, Lady Antebellum.

The Fryeburg Fair has a different and stronger model but for its board of directors, it’s still a decision that has to be made in this its 170th year.   “At this point the Fryeburg Fair hopes to hold the fair in October but we recognize that there are a lot of variables involved and we at this point believe that we have until early June to make the call.  Unless something happens in the meantime that makes a call for us.  But right now we’re hopeful for a fair but we just don’t know what will happen between now and then.” says David Hastings, Vice President and Finance Director of the Fryeburg Fair.

Keep up to date with announcements by visiting www.fryeburgfair.org.