At the Home Care Association of New Hampshire's annual meeting on June 13, the Association presented Margaret Franckhauser with the 2008 Home Care Service Award.

Franckhauser is honored for her tremendous contribution to the Lakes Region community and her statewide advocacy on key issues affecting nursing and nursing practice, as well as home health care.

For the past 11 years, Franckhauser has served as the CEO of Community Health & Hospice in Laconia where she oversees 125 employees and a $5.4 million budget. She has also held many leadership positions in the state around key issues affecting nursing and nursing practice, and has just completed a two-year term as president of the Home Care Association.

At the helm of Community Health & Hospice, Franckhauser has implemented clinical and business operating systems including the implementation of a fully integrated point of care system and a home telemonitoring system for high risk clients. Under her leadership, Community Health & Hospice has a staff retention rate in the high 90th percentile and was granted the "Supportive Nursing Environment" award by the N.H. Nurses Association in 2006 — the first home-care agency ever to receive the award.

Formed in 1974, the Home Care Association of New Hampshire membership includes both not-for-profit and proprietary agencies located in New Hampshire and neighboring states that are licensed to provide home health services in New Hampshire. Member agencies provide services for thousands of New Hampshire residents of all ages who are recovering from surgery, injury or illness, have chronic or terminal illnesses, or other conditions needing support at home. For more information visit www.homecarenh.org.