As part of Dartmouth Health's ongoing mission to deliver the best care possible to every patient, the health system recently implemented a new effort to improve the collection of patient demographic and health-related information. As of May 8, Dartmouth Health has modified how patients are asked about their preferences for discussing their care.
The 9-month project, "We Ask Because We Care," which is currently in its first phase, is intended to help providers and patients develop the optimal care plan to meet each individual patient's health needs. During the first project phase, patients will be asked at the time of their appointment check-in what their preferred language to discuss healthcare is. There is also a self-service option for updating this information in the myDH online patient portal. Patients are encouraged to visit myDH and update their information. Interpreter services will be arranged for patients who prefer to discuss their healthcare in a language other than English, at no cost to the patient or their family.
As the rollout of the project continues, additional questions and options about patient information will be added, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity. Patients are not required to volunteer this information, but doing so allows Dartmouth Health to better understand the needs of each patient and our communities in order to offer services and programs that are helpful to everyone.
"The more we understand our patients and their individual health needs, the better our ability to improve healthcare services and improve health equity," said Sally A. Kraft, MD, MPH, Population Health Officer for Dartmouth Health. "We will continue to expand our ability to capture information about health-related social needs such as access to healthy food, housing security and personal safety. These factors, known as the social drivers of health, greatly affect a person's overall health and well-being. By better understanding our patient population, we can work with our partners in the community to address these issues."
More information can be found on the Dartmouth Health "We Ask Because We Care" web page.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) advances the health and wellness of individuals across New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region through outstanding care and exceptional service. Cheshire teams deliver an impressive range of clinical services that support the community's needs. As a member of Dartmouth Health, Cheshire is able to provide services far exceeding those of a typical rural hospital, including extensive programs in primary care, cancer care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and public health. Cheshire patients are also able to access hundreds of highly trained specialists and a depth of clinical and technical resources through its collaboration with Dartmouth Health. Cheshire’s clinical practice is distinguished by an exceptional staff, a strong commitment to safety and quality, and a culture that values the contribution of every staff member and volunteer. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit cheshiremed.org.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and largest private employer, serves patients across New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,300 providers in nearly every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. Its network of hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics and home care facilities, spans a broad geographical area. Year after year, DHMC is named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is consistently recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, northern New England’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of less than than 60 total nationally; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital at DHMC/CHaD) and more than 20 locations around the region; eight member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont, Hampstead, and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Dartmouth Health Home Care; Dartmouth Health Connected Care Center for Telehealth, serving patients as far away as Texas; and more than 30 primary and multi-specialty clinics across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its partnership with Dartmouth College, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the White River Junction VA Medical Center, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials with international impact. Dartmouth Health and its more than 16,000 employees are committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in the communities it serves and to providing every patient with exceptional, state-of-the-art, personalized care. Learn more at dartmouth-health.org.