Patient Resources

Decision making tools

Patient decision aids are educational tools that give you information about your options and encourage you to think about what is important to you as you make your healthcare choices. These paper, DVD or web based tools may be used before, after or during your medical appointment. We can help you find the right resources to support you with your healthcare decision making.

• Emmi® Patient Education, a D-H partner since 2013, specializes in patient engagement and education. Emmi web-based video decision aids are prescribed for you by your care provider.  The Center for Shared Decision Making can also help Dartmouth-Hitchcock patients access these programs.
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Healthwise® Health Encyclopedia web-based interactive Decision Points on medical tests, medicines, surgeries, and treatments.
• AHRQ Patient Decision Aids
  The web-based decision aids from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality are designed for patients with certain conditions to help them think about what is important to them when talking with their clinician about treatment options. The site also provides free research summaries about the benefits and risks of different treatment options covering health topics suggested by the public.
• Option Grids are designed to help people compare reasonable treatment or screening options for medical conditions. Using a grid, patients and clinicians can read and compare the answers to questions that patients frequently ask about each relevant option.
• The Ottawa Personal Decision Guide© is a tool designed to help people make any health-related or social decision. The guide helps you assess your decision-making needs, think about what is important to you in making your choice, and plan your next steps. You can use this guide yourself, or with a facilitator. Health Coaches at the Center for Shared Decision Making are available to meet with you to help you think through your choices using this tool as a guide.
• Choosing Wisely has patient friendly resources from specialty societies and Consumer Reports to help you have conversations with your healthcare provider about what tests and treatments are appropriate for you.

Also available:

• The Prenatal Testing and Genetic Counseling Program has a video and companion booklet developed at Dartmouth-Hitchcock that can help you determine whether prenatal screening is right for you.
• The DHMC Lung Cancer Screening Program has developed tools to help you decide if screening is right for you.

Tips for working with your healthcare provider

• Making the Most of Your Appointment
• Skills for Making Wise Health Decisions

Websites of interest

• National Patient Safety Foundation provides links to educational opportunities and resources for patients and families.
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality provides information on diagnosis & treatment, prevention & health and how to get more involved with your health care.
• The Consumer Health Library at Dartmouth Hitchcock contains books and videotapes on a wide variety of consumer health topics, such as heart disease, child health, prescription drugs, aging and much more. There is also a searchable online index of websites that have been selected by the Matthew-Fuller Health Sciences librarians.

Other resource centers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Our various resource centers are staffed by professionals and volunteers who can help you find reliable health information and assistance.

• Aging Resource Center
• Consumer Health Library
• Health Education Center
• Pediatric Centers and Programs
• Pediatric Resources and Information
• Women's Health Resource Center
• Norris Cotton Cancer Center Patient and Family Resource Library