Stories of health and hope all made by possible by St. Joseph Hospital
By: Michelle Martin, for St. Joseph Hospital
Community is what unites us. It’s what keeps us safe and shows us where we belong. And when it comes to health care, one hometown choice provides the support we need during every stage of our lives – from giving birth to entrusting others to care for us in our senior years.
For generations, people have trusted the community of St. Joseph Hospital. We call this the 9 degrees of St. Joe’s – and it’s how we connect as one in our collective wellness journey from childhood to young adulthood and beyond.
1: Life begins at St. Joseph Hospital: We are the region’s only Baby-Friendly Hospital
What does it mean to be “Baby Friendly?” It means a lot. SSt. Joseph Hospital is the only hospital in southern New Hampshire to earn this designation from the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is an international program to increase breastfeeding rates globally, and it recognizes hospitals and birth centers that provide an optimal environment for the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.
This initiative, combined with 24/7 midwifery and several alternatives for pain management during labor, provides the best care for you and your baby, right here in Nashua. And we continue that promise with specialized, community-centric care into your child’s pediatric years.
2: Generations trust St. Joseph Hospital: We have been serving the community for more than 100 years
There’s a reason why generations of families have turned to St. Joseph Hospital. Our trusted medical professionals are part of the community – and they care for and treat each patient like their own family.
Since 1908, St. Joseph Hospital has been providing compassionate healing services and state-of-the-art care to people throughout the region. It’s no wonder that communities across the region have joined ours.
3. We put patients first: Our primary care network meets your needs – and your family’s
St. Joseph Hospital’s primary care doctors provide patient-centered, comprehensive, coordinated and accessible care to patients throughout the community – at every age and stage.
St. Joseph Hospital has a network of dedicated and specialized caregivers throughout Nashua, Hudson, Merrimack and Milford. And with extended evening and weekend hours, they are there to serve you – when you need it, and where you need it.
4: No bones about it: St. Joseph Hospital’s orthopedics team provides exceptional care
From diagnosis to recovery and beyond, it takes a team of highly skilled professionals to make sure you are receiving the best care for your orthopedic needs. St. Joseph Hospital offers a full range of treatment options for everything from strains and sprains to fractures, spinal disorders and joint replacement – all with 24/7 care that’s convenient and close to home.
Our community-focused approach includes a team of orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, nurse practitioners, physical therapists and occupational therapists who are educated on the latest procedures, techniques and state-of-the-art surgical technologies.
5: Life-saving images: St. Joseph Hospital’s 3D mammography is among many advancements in breast cancer diagnosis and care
There’s a reason why people from across the region come to St. Joseph Hospital for breast care. The Breast Care Center at St. Joseph Hospital promotes breast health for all women –especially for those who are at higher risk of breast cancer.
St. Joseph Hospital employs expert clinicians who use state-of-the-art technologies, such as 3D mammograms to find cancer early – when it’s most treatable. Patients get answers right away from on-site radiologists and, when needed, are referred immediately to a community of specialists who provide further testing, resources and treatment. A specially trained breast health nurse is available to provide advocacy and support, while other professionals are available for psychosocial and counseling support programs.
A community-focused team of professionals offering world-class care is one of many reasons why St. Joseph Hospital was recognized by the American College of Radiology as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, and why it is a proud partner in the “Let No Women Be Overlooked” Breast and Cervical program, sponsored by New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services.
6: Diagnosing and treating: Neurology care includes a partnership with top neuroscience group
St. Joseph Hospital’s community of physicians, nurses and support staff partners with each patient for their neurological health care needs. And a partnership between St. Joseph Hospital and New England Neurological Associates, one of the area’s largest multi-specialty neuroscience group practices, provides neurosurgical services in Greater Nashua.
St. Joseph Hospital conducts electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies for diabetic and other neuropathies; carpel tunnel syndrome; ulnar neuropathy at the elbow; muscle disease; and other issues.
And through electroencephalography (EEG) testing, doctors receive information about a patient’s brain and electrical activity – a critical tool in measuring seizure activity. The hospital performs various types of EEGs including routine, ambulatory and pediatric EEGs – all of which are reviewed by an on-site board-certified neurologist.
7: Learning by doing: St. Joseph Hospital’s School of Nursing has been educating and training nurses for more than a century
Located on the campus of St. Joseph Hospital, the School of Nursing dates back to 1910 – just two years after the hospital opened its doors to patients. Since then, the program has provided education and training to generations of nurses who practice the art and science of health care to meet the growing needs of the community.
The St. Joseph School of Nursing offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree and an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) to ASN program. The school also offers an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting.
8: With a commitment to get you home: St. Joseph Hospital’s inpatient rehab works with patients of all ages
Whether patients require physical, occupational, speech/language or recreational therapy, St. Joseph Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation works with patients of all ages, providing a place where patients can feel safe while regaining their strength and mobility.
Specialized rehabilitation nursing, supported by the latest rehabilitation technologies, are among the reasons that St. Joseph Hospital is a recognized leader in acute rehabilitation services in the region. And the hospital’s rehabilitation services are not one-size-fits-all – they focus on the unique needs and abilities of people of every age.
Patients benefit from the resources of a major rehabilitation hospital while having a family-centered, easily accessible environment that only a local, community hospital can provide.
9: Finding financial help when you need it: St. Joseph Hospital partners with Atlas Health
When you’re sick, the last thing you need to do is to worry about how you will pay for your care. St. Joseph Hospital has teamed up with Atlas Health to help patients pay for their medical expenses.
St. Joseph Hospital provides patients in its infusion center with a program to help them find less expensive – or even free – medication. And that kind of hometown support makes a meaningful impact on a patient’s physical and emotional path to recovery – thanks to a community of caregivers who believe all patients should have access to affordable care.
At St. Joseph Hospital, we move forward together by providing the highest-quality services and care to the people in the communities we serve – for 100-plus years and counting.