Speare Memorial Hospital receives gold for Best Hospital in 2026 competition

PLYMOUTH — Speare Memorial Hospital and its affiliated practices and providers earned four honors in the 2026 Best of the Lakes Region competition, including gold for Best Hospital.

The honors include:

• Speare Memorial Hospital — Gold, Best Hospital
• MedCheck Urgent Care — Silver, Best Walk-In Clinic
• Plymouth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine — Silver, Best Orthopedic Practice
• Laurel Galvin, APRN, of Plymouth Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine — Silver, Pediatrics

“These awards are especially meaningful because they reflect the confidence and support of the people we serve,” said Craig Williams, president and CEO of Speare Memorial Hospital. “They recognize the skill, compassion, and commitment our employees and providers demonstrate every day. We are grateful to our community for choosing Speare and proud of everyone whose work contributed to these honors.”

Now in its eighth year, Best of the Lakes Region recognizes the businesses, organizations, individuals, and places that make the region a special place to live. More than 1,300 nominees competed across 196 categories in 2026, generating more than 310,000 votes from over 47,000 voters. Finishing among the top two in any category represents a significant achievement. Healthcare was particularly well represented, with Medical Facility among this year’s leading categories.

Speare’s Gold award for Best Hospital recognizes the 25-bed critical access hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to residents of central New Hampshire and the Lakes Region.

MedCheck Urgent Care, with locations in Plymouth and Meredith, provides convenient care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Plymouth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine services in Plymouth and Meredith. Galvin provides pediatric care through Plymouth Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, caring for children and adolescents as part of the practice’s collaborative team.

“This recognition belongs to every employee and provider who helps create an exceptional experience for our patients and families,” Williams added. “They reinforce our commitment to working together to serve the needs of our patients and community.”

The Best of the Lakes Region program is hosted annually by The Laconia Daily Sun.

For more information, visit spearehospital.com.