To keep pace with the medical and nursing complexity of geriatric patients who were leaving hospitals and skilled facilities, the Fields quickly increased the number and qualifications of the nursing staff. An early initiative Dr. Hopkins undertook was to paying tuition and test fees for any of the staff interested in Hospice certifications.
Several staff passed the national examinations and later re-certifications and the Fields was out front in the hospice/assisted living movement. Dr. Hopkins and friends built the Hyder Family Hospice House and John was the last board chairman of the Seacoast Hospice.
The Fields now offers its own palliative and hospice training programs for all staff. Dr. Hopkins leads a 10-12 hour seminar once a year. The curriculum for 2019 is being developed.
Licensed Nurses Aids are in short supply and Watson Administrator, Wendy Switzer works with the Dover High School and American Red Cross to use Watson Fields as a training site for LNA’s. Wendy serves on the Board of the New Hampshire Association of Residential Care Facilities as well.
At Bellamy Fields, Administrator Melissa Sabina, a master’s degree holder and post masters graduate of a Cornell management training program has an affiliation with the Great Bay School of Nursing for RN training at Bellamy.
The social model of assisted living falls short of the needs of today’s complex geriatric residents. The Fields are developing the new professionals who will unify healthcare and hospitality for maximum quality of life.
