Dartmouth-Hitchcock

at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth Medical School, as we advance the health of our patients and communities and develop future leaders in medicine and science. Every step we take as an organization toward our mission and vision is undertaken with a sense of purpose. Our decisions follow a clearly defined strategy, with patients always in mind. Never has this been more evident than this past year, as we made significant strides regionally, nationally, and globally. This annual report provides you with highlights of our work together and of our accomplishments—together.

Leadership is often defined as the ability to organize a group of people to reach a common goal. At Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth Medical School, we define leadership as creating ways for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen.

In April 2011, we will launch a new comprehensive electronic medical record system; the development of this system was a primary focus for 2010, as thousands of clinicians and administrators at all Dartmouth-Hitchcock sites throughout the region worked to prepare for this monumental moment that will transform the way we care for our patients. Far more than a "computer system," this new electronic health record will provide a platform to support our efforts to truly redefine the way care should be delivered—everywhere.

Increased access to care for our patients throughout New England was evidenced by the ground-breaking for a new state-of-the-art ambulatory care center in Nashua. This center will significantly improve access to high-quality, convenient health care and specialty services in southern New Hampshire. And many of the region's patients continue to benefit from the broad reach of our children's health initiatives through the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, and of our exemplary cancer care and translational research through the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Our commitment to our patients and to improving care was front and center when we joined Dartmouth College in announcing the creation of the new Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science. Health care delivery science, a new field of study, focuses on organizational innovation as a pivotal element of high-level clinical practice. This truly multidisciplinary effort, involving Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Dartmouth Medical School, and all the other schools at Dartmouth signals our clear intention to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care.

While the passage of national health-care reform legislation has left many questioning how we will truly improve medical care in our country, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice has recently announced a unique collaborative with five of the nation's most prominent health-care organizations, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock, to determine and implement best practices for common conditions while reducing the cost of care.

This past year was particularly difficult financially. We have seen, and will continue to see, declining reimbursements. Maintaining our ability to deliver the highest quality care is our top priority.

The philanthropic support provided by our friends plays a critical role in helping us to meet our mission and serve our patients.