Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is launching a dedicated inpatient program for pregnant patients with substance use disorders, with plans to double patient capacity within the program’s first year.
The health system said the program is the first of its kind in New Hampshire and Northern New England and is aimed at addressing the critical healthcare gap, according to a May 26 news release from the system.
Here are three things to know:
- The initiative is supported by $900,000 in federal congressional funding. The funding will help transform two rooms in the hospital’s birthing pavilion into a specialized suite for patients undergoing withdrawal management. The team will include a medical director, care coordinators, recovery-trained doulas and behavioral health specialists to help address clinical and social challenges such as housing instability, trauma and domestic violence.
- The initiative includes substance use disorder training for hospital staff. DHMC said it will provide specialized training for teams across the neonatal, pediatric and medical intensive care units, pediatrics and the emergency department.
- Prenatal substance exposure remains a significant challenge. In 2022, 12.5% of babies born at the medical center were exposed to substances including opioids, cannabis and other drugs during pregnancy, according to the release. The health system said Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center delivers more infants with prenatal substance exposure than any other hospital in New Hampshire.
At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.