Areas of expertise
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, an MPH, MS and PhD degree-granting institute at Dartmouth College, adds significantly to the teaching and research opportunities at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Residents and fellows can work with faculty on projects in decision analysis, clinical epidemiology, or health care delivery. To keep the residents and fellows apprised of this rapidly evolving field, faculty members affiliated with the Institute and other clinical science departments routinely present their research at Medical Grand Rounds and Journal Club. Opportunities to develop expertise in statistical and critical analysis are also available to our residents and fellows. The Institute is also involved in our medical center's patient education programs and is an integral part of the innovative and interdisciplinary Center for Shared Decision Making.
Dartmouth Cancer Center, 1 of only 53 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, is an integral part of our medical center. Conceived in 1972 as a local center for the diagnosis and care of cancer patients, the Dartmouth Cancer Center has grown into an internationally recognized cancer center that supports patients with a dynamic program of basic research, advanced clinical technologies, cancer prevention strategies, outreach care, and education programs. Patients with all forms of cancer are treated at the Dartmouth Cancer Center and receive the most technologically advanced cancer treatments, which are being developed here and in collaboration with scientists throughout the nation. The Norris Cotton Cancer Care Pavilion Lebanon underwent a significant expansion in 2003.
Simulation training
Our Patient Safety Training Center is an 8,000 square-foot on site facility consisting of a simulated inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences. The goal of the Simulation Center is to focus learning experiences linked to clinical needs through 2 initiatives: technical skill training and improvement in communication and group dynamics.
Patient population
As the only academic, tertiary care center in New Hampshire, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center provides care to a population base of over 2 million people. The medical center's catchment area stretches north to the Vermont and New Hampshire Canadian borders, east to Maine, south into Massachusetts and west to New York State. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team (DHART) air-transports 700 critically ill medical and trauma patients to our medical center annually. Our faculty and residents and fellows also provide primary care to the communities of the Upper Connecticut River Valley. Our patients are rated in the highest group on the National Hospital Index of patient illness severity and complexity. Health care at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is a unique and interesting mix of tertiary and primary care.
Information technology
All inpatient training sites include a full electronic medical record system, including eDH (EPIC) at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and the Graphic User Interface (GUI) system at the White River Junction VA Hospital. Both systems are fully integrated including electronic order entry, digital radiology, and offsite access. The entire Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center campus is equipped with wireless access for use with laptop or tablet computing. Medline, UpToDate, and other evidence-based databases as well as the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center intranet are available from all medical center work stations and throughout the outpatient clinics. The Biomedical Libraries of Dartmouth College have approximately 2500 current journal subscriptions, including 1500 digital journals. The libraries also provide access to over 40 digital textbooks, including Harrisons Online, and MDConsult. The biomedical librarians offer practical lectures and regularly scheduled workshops on manipulating resources and navigating medical data bases available on the web.
Leadership Preventive Medicine Residency
After completing a 3-year internal medicine residency, our residents may apply to the Leadership Preventive Medicine Residency, a unique program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center that allows residents from various fields to expand their training. They gain knowledge and skills in the measurement of outcomes, the leadership of change, and the improvement of health care systems. Through a combination of coursework and practicum projects, residents learn to evaluate clinical microsystems and take leadership roles in effecting change. This training includes the awarding of a Masters of Public Health degree from Dartmouth College at no cost to you.
Fellowship programs
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center offers a full array of fellowship programs, enhancing the educational experience as well as facilitating the fellowship application process for our residents.