Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Health has engaged two consulting firms to assist with its performance improvement plan and is curtailing capital spending, the system said in a Feb. 27 filing.
Describing the scale of some of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — such as elevated labor costs — as "unprecedented," the six-hospital system said initiatives arising from the performance plan launched in November can help in its bid to achieve sustainable financial results.
"But [we] cannot predict how the lingering aftereffects of the pandemic will affect operations or economic conditions in the future," management said in the filing.
The $150 million patient pavilion project at the system's flagship hospital in Lebanon remains unaffected by the plans to curtail other capital spending. The 64-bed pavilion is due to open in May.
Dartmouth Health, which said recruitment and retention of high quality staff remains one of its highest priorities, reported a $78 million operating loss for the six months ending Dec. 31.
The system, which employs about 12,000 people, is New Hampshire's largest private employer.