North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency

06/11/2026

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Natalie Valliere, RN, CLC, C-NPT, Nurse Manager of the Valley Birthplace at Androscoggin Valley Hospital.

Natalie shares what personalized, family-centered maternity care looks like in a rural hospital setting, and how her team supports families through one of life’s most meaningful transitions. From private labor and delivery suites to lactation support, wireless fetal monitoring, nitrous for pain management, and the small comforts that help families feel more at home, the Valley Birthplace is designed around safety, connection, and individualized care.

Together, they also explore AVH’s use of the TeamBirth model, an evidence-based approach that strengthens communication, shared decision-making, and trust between birthing parents, support people, nurses, and providers. Natalie reflects on why feeling heard matters so deeply during childbirth, how rural maternity care is rooted in relationships, and what it means to care for families close to home.

From first contractions to first memories, Natalie and the Valley Birthplace team are helping families feel supported, informed, and cared for every step of the way.

Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/UXeyDT8E2u8
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1JSFGrW4XtUqn2BqIW1doF

06/09/2026

Care close to home depends on the help of nurses close to home.

At NCH, nurses make rural healthcare possible. They bring care, skill, flexibility, and heart to patients who deserve access to excellent care without having to leave the region they call home.

If you are looking for a nursing career rooted in purpose, place, and community, we would love to have you here.

Nursing where it matters most. Always Here. Always for You.

Learn more about nursing opportunities at https://northcountryhealth.org/nch-careers/

06/05/2026

Start your nursing career where your work matters.

NCH is proud to welcome eight new graduate nurses in 2026, with additional opportunities still available across the System in the Emergency Department, Surgical Services, and Inpatient Med/Surg units.

New graduate nurses at NCH receive support through a comprehensive 12-week New Graduate Residency Program. ED nurses also participate in a specialty residency developed with the Emergency Nurses Association. Surgical Services nurses are enrolled in PeriOp 101, with extended orientation for specialty roles after residency.

You do not have to start your nursing career alone. At NCH, you start with support, mentorship, and a community that needs you.

Nursing where it matters most. Always Here. Always for You.

Learn more about nursing opportunities at NCH: https://northcountryhealth.org/nch-careers/

06/04/2026

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Erica Hoyt, Medical Staff Coordinator at North Country Healthcare, whose work supports the behind-the-scenes processes that help keep rural healthcare safe, organized, and ready for patient care.

Erica shares what credentialing really involves, why trust and confidentiality are central to the work, and how careful coordination helps ensure that medical staff are prepared to serve patients across the North Country.

This conversation also reflects on the value of work that is not always visible, but is deeply essential. Erica talks about what it can feel like to lean into discomfort, grow through new challenges, and step into responsibilities that require precision, communication, and courage. Her story is a reminder that rural healthcare depends not only on the people providing care at the bedside, but also on the professionals who protect trust, support providers, and keep the System moving behind the scenes.

Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
https://youtu.be/uN5jluuKzgY
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5NHsg5BAZkbYm7YA4GXQMQ

06/01/2026

Beginning this Thursday!

Be sure to get your registration in for the new Caregiver Support Group by North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, to be held on Thursdays, beginning June 4th from 4:00pm - 5:30pm, hosted by Ashley Brown, Hospice Social Worker, Kelsea Denney, Hospice Social Worker and Derrick Fallon, Spiritual Counselor.

Planned topics are:

Week 1: Introduction to Caregiving
Week 2: Caregiver Self Care
Week 3: Contented Involvement
Week 4: Managing Behaviors and Daily Needs
Week 5: Conversation with an Expert Week 6: Family Resources

The location of the support group will be: North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency at 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH.

Register via QR Code or at: https://bit.ly/CaregiverSupport-NCHHHA

We look forward to meeting you, hearing your story, and providing the support and encouragement you deserve. No matter what challenges you are facing, you do not have to go through them alone. Join us in a safe, welcoming space where you can share your experiences, connect with others who understand, and receive the support you need to move forward with hope and strength.

05/28/2026

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Karen Gagnon from North Country Healthcare’s Case Management team. Known by colleagues for her extraordinary compassion, Karen shares what it means to support patients and families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Recently recognized through a DAISY Award nomination, Karen reflects on the power of empathy in healthcare, the importance of staying curious, and how asking thoughtful questions can help patients and families feel heard, understood, and supported.

This conversation explores the emotional side of healthcare work, the humanity behind case management, and the quiet leadership that happens through presence, patience, curiosity, and care.

Warm, thoughtful, and deeply grounded in mission, Karen reminds us that healthcare is ultimately about people showing up for one another.

Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
https://conta.cc/49noXz8
https://conta.cc/4wWzZVV

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Karen Gagnon from North Country Healthcare’s Case Management team. Known b...

05/26/2026

Be sure to register for the new Caregiver Support Group by North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, to be held on Thursdays, beginning June 4th from 4:00pm - 5:30pm, hosted by Ashley Brown, Hospice Social Worker, Kelsea Denney, Hospice Social Worker and Derrick Fallon, Spiritual Counselor.

Planned topics are:

Week 1: Introduction to Caregiving
Week 2: Caregiver Self Care
Week 3: Contented Involvement
Week 4: Managing Behaviors and Daily Needs
Week 5: Conversation with an Expert Week 6: Family Resources

The location of the support group will be: North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency at 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH.

Register via QR Code or at: https://bit.ly/CaregiverSupport-NCHHHA

We look forward to meeting you, hearing your story, and providing the support and encouragement you deserve. No matter what challenges you are facing, you do not have to go through them alone. Join us in a safe, welcoming space where you can share your experiences, connect with others who understand, and receive the support you need to move forward with hope and strength.

05/22/2026

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled:

Warm, approachable, and deeply rooted in the North Country, Derek Eastman brings both clinical expertise and genuine passion to this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled. As a Physical Therapist, Outreach Rehab Director at AVH, and Interim Rehab Director at UCVH, Derek shares what it means to help patients regain confidence, mobility, and quality of life in a rural healthcare setting. From spine care and rehabilitation innovation to leadership, mentorship, and building strong community connections, this conversation highlights the heart behind the work. Derek also reflects on his long journey with North Country Healthcare, the evolution of rehab services, and why caring for people close to home matters so much.

Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://conta.cc/42LlYg7
https://conta.cc/3RAZMCT