Wentworth-Douglass awards grant, holds advanced directive event: Seacoast health news
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital awards $10K to Camp Carefree
DOVER — For the second consecutive year, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has awarded a $10,000 community benefit grant to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to support Camp Carefree, a summer camp in New Durham, N.H., for children living with type 1 diabetes.
The grant will help support 100 campers this summer, with all funds going directly to camperships and camp operation costs. ADA camps allow children with diabetes to have a camp experience under safe, qualified medical care – an experience not offered at many summer programs.
“We know that Camp Carefree is powerful and life-changing for so many children, so we are proud to support them once again,” said Michelle Hanson, director of strategic planning and community benefit at Wentworth-Douglass.
Each summer, Camp Carefree hosts campers ages 8–17 from around the region at Merrymeeting Lake. The one-week program includes diabetes education to engage campers, and keep them motivated in their own care, with the support of the camp community. The programming is led by counselors and licensed medical staff, who are supervised and encouraged to embrace new challenges through discovery, adventure, and play.
“We are once again very grateful to Wentworth Douglass, whose support last year helped ensure that we were back in person after two virtual summers,” said Camp Carefree Director Alicia Harper. “All of our experiences are developed to provide opportunities for children with diabetes to forge life-long sustainable relationships, overcome feelings of isolation, and gain self-confidence, so it’s great to once again have the hospital’s support.”
The funding from Wentworth-Douglass will allow the camp to help subsidize camp fees for over 40% of the families that need financial aid for their child to attend. Funding will also be used for medical supplies and operational costs.
Wentworth-Douglass conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years to identify where the hospital should focus its programs and services to improve the overall health of the individuals and families it serves. The funds donated are approved by the hospital’s Community Benefit Funding Disbursement Committee and are not raised through any public or private donations.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital named “High Performing” by U.S. News & World Report
DOVER – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been named “High Performing” in the treatment of heart failure, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Hospitals rankings released today.
This is the highest award a hospital can earn in the publisher’s Common Adult Procedure and Condition Ratings.
“Earning this recognition from U.S. News speaks to the relentless commitment of our entire workforce to the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Darin Roark, president and chief operating officer, “We’re proud to receive this designation and even more proud that we continue to deliver nationally recognized care right here in Dover and beyond.”
U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 21 procedures and conditions; only 12% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.
Mass General Brigham is honored to have five hospitals nationally recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital once again earned spots on the Honor Roll among the top hospitals in the country. Brigham and Women’s Hospital is ranked #1 in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology. Three Mass General Brigham specialty hospitals – McLean Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation and Mass Eye and Ear – are also recognized for national excellence. McLean Hospital is ranked #1 in psychiatry. Spaulding Rehabilitation is #2 in rehabilitation. Mass Eye and Ear is ranked #4 in ophthalmology and #7 in otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat).
Earlier this year, Mass General Brigham launched For Every Patient, a systemwide unified quality strategy that seeks to achieve the best possible outcomes for every patient. For Every Patient is a multi-year, evidence-based, data driven effort that will provide high-quality care that is effective, safe, personalized, and rooted in equity at every touchpoint, for every patient.
Additional details about the U.S. News & World Report ranking system can be found here.
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center named New Hampshire’s Best Hospital for 2023-24 by U.S. News & World Report
LEBANON – Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), the flagship academic medical center of Dartmouth Health, has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as New Hampshire’s Best Hospital in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2023-24 rankings, which were released this week.
“Everyone working in healthcare has faced tremendous challenges in the last few years. Our teams at DHMC have been no exception,” said Susan A. Reeves, EdD, RN, CENP, executive vice president of DHMC. “Despite the many hurdles, our teams continue to deliver world-class care day in and day out, and their commitment to our patients has never wavered. I’m tremendously proud that our hospital has once again been recognized as the Granite State’s best, and this honor would not be possible without all of our staff—clinical, operational, administrative and many more.”
DHMC was also recognized as “high performing” in the adult specialty of cancer, as well as in 15 common adult procedures and conditions, including:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Aortic valve surgery
Back surgery (spinal fusion)
Colon cancer surgery
Heart attack
Heart bypass surgery
Heart failure
Hip replacement
Knee replacement
Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Lung cancer surgery
Ovarian cancer surgery
Prostate cancer surgery
Stroke
Uterine cancer surgery
Two other Dartmouth Health members were also recognized in several areas. Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital was recognized by U.S. News as high-performing in hip replacement, and Cheshire Medical Center was recognized as high-performing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia care.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital hosting advance directive event at Dover Library
DOVER – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital is hosting a free event to assist those interested in drafting an advanced directive.
The event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Dover Public Library. Attendees will receive a 30-minute appointment with a social worker, who will assist in creating the document.
An advanced directive, commonly referred to as a living will, is a legal document that specifies what actions should be taken if a person is no longer able to make decisions for themselves – often because they have become seriously ill or otherwise incapacitated.
Those attending should bring their license, a list of proxies they would like to represent them, and contact information for all parties involved.
There is a limit of 20 appointments. To schedule an important, or inquire further, please call the hospital’s social work office at 603-740-2826.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wentworth-Douglass awards grant, holds advanced directive event: Seacoast health news
