NH hospitals don't regret growth, even in the face of cuts

The city's two hospitals face tough decisions as they lay off hundreds of workers and cut services after losing millions of dollars in Medicaid funding. But one decision that executives at St. Joseph Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center don't regret is the one to expand their physical footprints. Over the last two decades, the hospitals have grown by leaps and bounds, embarking on multimillion-dollar construction projects, opening satellite health practices and hiring employees. This growth included a $25 million ambulatory wing that, coupled with an expansive new lobby, put a modern face on St. Joseph Hospital. The 5-year-old wing contains several outpatient services: surgery, cardiovascular, oncology, endoscopy and blood drawing.