At The Medical Center, quality of care serves as the foundation for everything we do. Our physicians and nurses base their practice on the best scientific evidence, combined with skill and experience. To achieve Clinical Excellence, they follow more than 300 protocols and checklists which promote best practice for patients. Particular areas of focus include surgical care, labor and delivery, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, heart attack and stroke.

We benchmark our performance against national organizations such as the National Quality Forum (NQF) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), whose validated employee/staff survey is used to identify opportunities for improvement. The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are also key standard bearers.

Awards and Accreditations

• #1 Value in NH: Southern New Hampshire Medical Center was rated the #1 Hospital in New Hampshire and #5 in New England for quality, affordability, efficiency, and patient satisfaction by Press Ganey.
• Nursing Excellence: Southern New Hampshire Medical Center has earned recognition as a Magnet-designated hospital, there are less than 400 in the country and only three in New Hampshire. Learn more about our nursing program.
• Joint Commission: The Medical Center is proud to have earned accreditation by The Joint Commission. Read more about our quality performance.
• Harvard Pilgrim Hospital Honor Roll: The Medical Center was once again named to the Harvard Pilgrim Hospital Honor Roll in 2011.
• Stroke Award: The Medical Center is proud to be a Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award winner from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's "Get with the Guidelines" program. Learn more about this award. Learn more about our Stroke Care performance.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Award: Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program has achieved national certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), making it one of only 1,300 such programs in the country with this distinction. Cardiac patients receive the highest level of rehabilitation services here at The Medical Center.
• Cancer Program Award: The best in today’s cancer care can be found in a Commission on Cancer (COC) approved oncology program, like the one at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. In November 2011, The Medical Center’s Cancer Program once again earned a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, ensuring quality care close to home. Learn more about our Cancer Committee.
• Laboratory Excellence: The main Laboratory at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, including the Blood Bank and Transfusion Services, as well as the Blood Gas Laboratory, were awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CAP program is one of the most well-respected accreditation programs in the world and has long been considered the “gold standard” of quality care. The rigorous accreditation process ensures the highest standard of care for laboratory patients.
• Breast Health Excellence: The deNicola Breast Health Center, fully accredited in breast MRI, ultrasound, mammography, and stereotactic biopsy by the American College of Radiology, earned high marks from the Food and Drug Administration for meeting the Mammography Quality Standards Act. In addition, the deNicola Breast Health Center has been designated a Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology--one of only a few in the state.