While it is a given the Peterborough firehouse is inadequate, it is unclear how the needs (current and future) were established. Specifically, how was the proposed merger between MCH/Granite One (Monadnock Community Hospital) and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) taken into account? This merger will directly impact the ambulance service.
First, residents with complicated medical issues can be treated at MCH because staff will have direct access to DHMC specialists who can detail the latest treatment plans. This will avoid the 90-minute ambulance ride from MCH to DHMC. Second, this merger may enable MCH to escape the restrictions imposed by its status as a community access hospital. By law, this designation restricts MCH to 25 beds and a limited number of medical specialty services. Expanding beds and services will further reduce the need for transportation from MCH to other hospitals. DHMC leads the field of rural health care, providing quality treatment to rural residents in the most-economic manner. This enables keeping patients in their home communities.
The future requirements of the Peterborough ambulance service must be evaluated in light of this MCH/DHMC merger. Probably, the proposed firehouse will not be completed for five years. In that time, the health care landscape will change quite a bit. Given this is only one important factor that eluded the planning committee, how complete was the needs analysis? The cart is before the horse. An engineering study is conducted after understanding what is needed. Just what is the wish list of stuff that will be used to fill 30,000 square feet of storage space? As a result, I will vote no even on the revised warrant for an “engineering” study. Is a 30,000-square-foot facility warranted? If so, show me.
Dewey Clark
Peterborough