In December 2021, I had a relatively simple day surgery. When my specialist was making the referral to the surgeon, he said “I wouldn’t get the surgery in NH. There aren’t many of these surgical specialists in the State and it will take forever to be seen. I’ll refer you to a hospital in Boston.” As this was my first surgery, I took his advice and made the trek down to Boston at 5am for an 8am surgery a few weeks later. All went well, but I have since spent a lot of time reflecting on this recommendation and the unnecessary drive down to Boston. There is quality healthcare in NH, but the availability of specialists (and even primary care providers) in the state is certainly challenging. As a state, we must prioritize attracting and retaining quality medical professionals (at all levels) throughout the state so we have a well-distributed healthcare workforce to provide much needed preventative and specialty care to granite staters. As a state, we need to address the issues of burnout for healthcare workers, and we must come up with creative solutions for creating and improving career pathways and programs for those interested in joining the workforce.
Another important aspect of retaining qualified medical professionals is not passing legislation that puts their careers at risk. I would not support any legislation that puts any further restrictions on reproductive care and abortion access, and I would oppose any legislation that penalizes healthcare providers for providing necessary and life-saving care to patients who need it. More restrictions placed by the state on healthcare providers means less providers who will choose to work in New Hampshire. As a state, we must protect and prioritize our healthcare providers and the patients who rely on their services every day.
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