CHHS Training and Education Programs Build Skills, Strengthen Communities Year End Update

CONCORD, NH – From simulation-based learning to innovative college partnerships, Concord Hospital Health System (CHHS) is investing in healthcare professionals and in doing so, strengthening access to high-quality care for communities across New Hampshire.
 
Expanding Skills Through Education and Training Centers
A year ago this month, Concord Hospital – Laconia (CHL) Education & Training Center welcomed its first class: the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Pediatric Advanced Life Support course. Since then, the center has hosted additional AHA offerings, including basic dysrhythmia training and clinical orientation for new hires.
 
Designed to enhance clinical confidence and patient safety, the new facility features a spacious classroom, two rooms for low-fidelity simulation or clinical case training, a computer workspace for staff, and educator offices. It serves as a hands-on learning hub for CHHS employees to practice skills, learn specialized techniques, and prepare for real-world patient care scenarios.
 
Beyond supporting current employees through hands-on training in Laconia, CHHS is also focused on building the future healthcare workforce by introducing students to clinical careers early on. In Concord, students can sample a variety of hospital-based occupations. “CHHS supports many shadows for the Concord Regional Technical Center in all departments, and they are great students,” shared CHHS’s Academic-Practice Partner and Student Placement Coordinator Emily Higgins, DNP, MSN, RN, ONC. “We also have a lot of guest speakers that go to the school and talk about healthcare careers.”
 
This collaboration gives students a frontline workforce perspective and the opportunity to speak with providers and staff about their careers. “I love Concord Hospital and the support they provide to our future healthcare professionals. The partnership has been incredibly meaningful for our program,” said Sharon Bean, a health science teacher at Concord High School. “This year, we are proud to serve 118 students who are excited, motivated, and eager to learn as they prepare for careers in health care.”
 
Specialized Life-Saving Training
Concord Hospital (CH) recently became a formal training center for Cardiac Surgical Unit Advanced Life Support (CSU-ALS) certification. This specialized program equips providers with unique skills to respond to cardiac arrests following open-heart surgery — a process that differs from standard Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). Developed by Cardiac Advanced Resuscitation Education (CARE, LLC), and recognized globally by organizations like the AHA, CSU-ALS training will help CHHS achieve its goal of becoming a “Center of Excellence” within two years. Granted by CARE, LLC, this designation would enable CH to expand training from internal candidates to other healthcare professionals statewide.
 
Immersive Fellowship in Emergency and Observation (ED/OBS) Unit Medicine
Last year’s ED/OBS summer/fall fellowship launched on July 10, 2025, and graduated on November 14, 2025, welcoming CHHS’s largest group of new graduate registered nurses to date. The 19-week comprehensive program brought together nurses from Concord, Franklin, and Laconia for weekly sessions combining didactic instruction with simulation-based training.
 
Core topics included medication safety, triage, cardiac dysrhythmia and emergencies, respiratory emergencies, trauma, pediatrics, behavioral health crises, diabetic ketoacidosis and sepsis, and OB/GYN emergencies. By the end of the program, fellows are prepared with the critical-thinking skills, procedural expertise, and clinical confidence needed to excel in fast-paced, high-acuity care environments.
 
Building the Workforce Through College Partnerships
CHHS’s commitment to workforce development extends well beyond its walls. The health system maintains close partnerships with local colleges, creating career pathways that address staffing shortages and improve patient access to care.
 
One standout collaboration with New England College earned CHHS the Presidents’ Community Partner Award. The Cooperative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers an accelerated three-year degree that blends classroom learning with nine months of clinical training. Students work as licensed nursing assistants while completing rotations across CHHS, guided by experienced mentors.
 
This year’s cohort of 18 students completed a 14-week summer rotation alongside registered nurses, experiencing multiple departments and gaining a comprehensive view of nursing practice. All their student nurse training was in Concord, but two students completed their LNA training and LNA hours in Laconia. Those two Laconia students still work at CHL in LNA co-op roles.
 
CHHS also partners with Manchester Community College (MCC) to prepare Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs). The winter and summer 2025 LNA classes were trained at Havenwood Heritage Heights and CHHS facilities under the guidance of MCC faculty. All the graduates joined CHHS, beginning their careers in patient care. One of those graduates, Skyelar Baillargeon, LNA, credits the program with developing the soft skills essential in health care.
 
“Working with patients during my training prepared me better because instead of just doing book work and stuff in class, I got to get the hang of doing things and talking with them, even if they just needed to talk to us,” said Baillargeon.
 
Investing in Community Health
These initiatives, along with CHHS’s medical assistant residency, nursing residencies, pharmacy technician training, behavioral health education programs, and other professional development opportunities, are supported in part by Community Benefits funding.
 
For participants like Baillargeon, beginning a healthcare career by serving patients in their community provides additional value. “It means everything to me. Helping people has always been something I wanted to do, and it has inspired me to go for my registered nurse license.”
By developing a highly trained, locally rooted workforce, CHHS strengthens the health system’s mission of delivering care close to home — ensuring that patients receive expert, compassionate treatment from providers who understand their community.
 
“Throughout these programs, students and staff gain invaluable experience that advances their education while deepening their commitment to the nursing and healthcare professions,” said Erin Collins, RN, CHHS vice president of nursing professional practice and development. “These opportunities not only prepare individuals for successful careers but also improve access to care for our patients.”
 
With nearly 5,000 employees serving more than 250,000 residents statewide, CHHS continues to build a strong foundation for the future of health care in New Hampshire.