This is a clear signal that our strategies are working, and that our communities can be confident in the quality of care provided at Dartmouth Health member hospitals.
Carol L. Barsky, MD, MBAFour Dartmouth Health hospitals have been recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with a four-star quality rating (out of five stars): Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, NH, and Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) in Keene, NH. Cheshire’s rating marks an upgrade from its previous rating of three stars in 2024. The four-star rating reflects the health system’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.
“This achievement is the result of sustained focus and collaboration among our clinical care teams, leadership and staff system-wide,” said Carol L. Barsky, MD, MBA, chief quality and value officer for Dartmouth Health. “We have worked intentionally to strengthen our processes, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that our patients are at the center of everything we do. This is a clear signal that our strategies are working, and that our communities can be confident in the quality of care provided at Dartmouth Health member hospitals.”
The CMS star ratings evaluate hospitals nationwide on a range of quality measures, including patient experience, safety, mortality, readmission rates and timely and effective care.
“Cheshire’s improvement from three to four stars shows significant teamwork across the organization with our inpatient teams, nurses, providers, support staff, our quality and safety team, all coming together,” said Joseph L. Perras, MD, CEO and president of Cheshire. “Our improved CMS rating comes at a time when the hospital is expanding access to care with our Family & Community Care center, and investing in new technology such as advanced dialysis machines and robotic assisted surgical tools, while recruiting top clinical talent.”
For more information about the four-star CMS rating, visit medicare.gov/care-compare.
Some hospitals did not have enough patients to meet the reporting threshold to be included in star rating and are listed as “N/A.” This is not reflective of their quality rating, but rather a reporting threshold.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) advances the health and wellness of individuals across New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region through outstanding care and exceptional service. Cheshire teams deliver an impressive range of clinical services that support the community's needs. As a member of Dartmouth Health, Cheshire is able to provide services far exceeding those of a typical rural hospital, including extensive programs in primary care, cancer care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and public health. Cheshire patients are also able to access hundreds of highly trained specialists and a depth of clinical and technical resources through its collaboration with Dartmouth Health. Cheshire’s clinical practice is distinguished by an exceptional staff, a strong commitment to safety and quality, and a culture that values the contribution of every staff member and volunteer. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit cheshiremed.org.
About Dartmouth Engineering
Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, founded in 1867, works to better the world through research and education with human-centered impact. Serving as a hub for scholarship and innovation, Dartmouth Engineering prepares the next generation of leaders through undergraduate and graduate degree programs that foster learning and discovery both within and across disciplines. Home to the nation's first PhD Innovation Program, Dartmouth Engineering is a leader in creating engineers with both technical and entrepreneurial expertise to tackle the most pressing issues of our time. Learn more at the Dartmouth Engineering website and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@thayerschool).