Our Complex Care programs help kids and their families who have health care needs that involve care by many specialists and providers. Our Complex Care programs bridge the gap between specialists, primary care physicians, and families.
We offer complex care at two locations:
- The Complex Care Program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, provides transitional long-term and multidisciplinary care for children who are followed by three or more specialists in the Dartmouth-Hitchcock system.
- The Complex Care Primary Clinic at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester provides full service, wraparound care for children and adults with special health care needs and their entire family.
Conditions we treat
Our Complex Care programs support children with chronic conditions that need to be treated by multiple pediatric specialists. Our patients have medical conditions such as:
- Autism
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Cerebral palsy
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Complex congenital heart disease
- Complications of prematurity
- Cystic fibrosis
- Developmental delay and disabilities
- Metabolic disorders
- Multi-system congenital anomalies
- Respiratory system anomalies
- Severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy with significant neurological damage
- Those who need equipment such as G-tubes, J-tubes, oxygen, or tracheostomy
Whether you are currently in the transitional long-term care program or new to multidisciplinary care, our teams provide flexible, supportive programs that allows ease of care and peace of mind for medically complex pediatric patients and their families.
Benefits of the Complex Care programs
Our Complex Care programs help patients and families live the most comfortable life they can while managing their family member’s health needs. Our goals include:
- Reducing costly trips to the emergency room, which can be traumatizing to the patient and family
- Preventing or shortening hospitalizations
- Simplifying a family’s medical care to ease the burden on the family
- Meeting a family’s goals so that they have a more satisfying life experience with their loved one that needs complex care, as well as the rest of the family
We meet these program goals by providing you and your family:
- Medical and developmental support
- A centralized point of contact for your care continuity
- Access and information about community resources and programs
- Communication between medical specialists and multidisciplinary practices
- Recommendations for optimal quality of life and palliative care
- Referrals for multidisciplinary programs and medical specialties
- Education designed to guide you through diagnoses
- Social support
- Inpatient support (Lebanon program only)
Dr. Kathleen Fisher reassured us and made it clear that every child who has spina bifida is unique. And we've found this to be true. Olivia is happy, content, and neurologically she meets her milestones.
Jessica, Olivia's mother