Littleton Regional Healthcare history

In 1923, the Littleton Hospital Training School for Nurses opened in the new Remich Home for Nurses, adjacent to the Hospital.

The Littleton Hospital Association undertook its first major construction program in 1932 as the area population grew.

He joined the Littleton Hospital staff in 1958 when the evolution of Emergency Medicine was just starting across the country.

Another important player in the evolution of Emergency Medicine in the Littleton area was Tom Ross, a native of Littleton, NH. Tom graduated from Littleton High School in 1959.

Tom built Ross Funeral Home in Littleton and began the operation in 1967.

In 1968, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons invited Tom Ross to participate in a pilot Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course at Harvard University.

He later trained future EMTs all across northern NH. Tom also developed a Fast Squad system in Northern New Hampshire, which the region widely adopted in the late 1970’s.

Tom later became an instructor for this course, running the first Littleton area course in 1971 at Littleton High School.

Funding was a result of the federal EMS Systems Act of 1973 when the United States Government named a National EMS Director responsible for distribution of the monies nationwide.

In September of 1975, general surgeon, Doctor Howard Pritham, founded the Littleton Hospital Tumor Clinic.

The North Country began piloting this federally funded EMS in 1976.

In 1984, the NH Conservation Officer Force awarded Tom an honorary membership due to his invaluable service teaching New Hampshire Fish and Game personnel emergency medicine skills.

In 1990, Littleton Hospital started the new decade with a new name, Littleton Regional Hospital, reflecting its wider service area.

The DHART service did not begin until July 1, 1994).

In 1999, construction began on the new Littleton Regional Hospital located at 600 St Johnsbury Road.

The new 88,000-square-foot hospital and its adjoining 25,000-square-foot medical office building opened on January 23, 2001.

On October 18, 2002, the Physicians’ Office Building and Conference Center was dedicated in memory of Doctor H. Taylor Caswell, Jr., a long-time physician, trustee, and beloved friend of the Littleton Regional Hospital.

In the Littleton area, the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team (PFSART), founded by Allan Clark in 2005, responds to requests from the NH Fish and Game and other public safety agencies.

In 2010, LRH added a new 63,000 square foot medical office building with an unfinished upper level (for future growth) to house additional physician practices.

In 2012, LRH expanded its surgical suite to increase the number of operating rooms to four, and greatly increase the number of prep and recovery areas.

LRH turned the switch on to its new Biomass Plant on January 1, 2014.

The newly renovated Sauter Birthing Suite, a state of the art family-centered birthing unit, opened its doors to residents of Northern New Hampshire and Vermont in 2016, as well.