COÖS COUNTY, NH – September 3, 2026 – North Country Healthcare (NCH) has updated its process for routine laboratory services following patient feedback and a broader review of access across the system.
Patients can now walk in for most routine laboratory services during regular lab hours without scheduling an appointment in advance. The change follows a review that identified the appointment requirement as an unnecessary barrier for many patients.
“We have heard clearly from our communities that accessing healthcare needs to be simpler, and this was one area where our process was making that harder than it needed to be,” said Tom Mee, RN, BSN, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of North Country Healthcare. “We should have identified and addressed that barrier sooner. When a process is not serving our patients well, it is our responsibility to change it.”
For most routine lab work, patients may now arrive during regular laboratory hours after their provider has submitted the necessary order. Patients should continue to follow any preparation instructions associated with their testing, including fasting when required. In the rare instance that a specific laboratory test requires an appointment or additional coordination, the ordering provider will let the patient know.
NCH laboratory services are available at locations throughout the region, including Berlin, Colebrook, Groveton, Lancaster, Littleton and Whitefield. Patients are generally served in order of arrival.
The change reflects NCH’s broader commitment to continuous improvement, including examining its own processes and removing unnecessary barriers that make healthcare more difficult to access. NCH will continue evaluating opportunities to make care easier to access across the region.
Because laboratory hours vary by location and may change, patients are encouraged to visit northcountryhealth.org or call their preferred NCH location for the most current information.