Patrick Francis, MD

Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire's only academic health system and the state's largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes its Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, including the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the state’s only children’s hospital and clinic locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene and New London, NH, and Windsor, VT, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.

My goal is to provide compassionate and comprehensive orthopaedic care to every one of my patients. As a former athlete, I understand the importance of movement and mobility to each person’s physical and mental well-being. It’s gratifying to see patients heal and recover. Whether it means getting back to work, gardening, or competitive sports, my goal is to help patients return to the life they enjoy. I view my patients as partners in their own care. I encourage them to actively participate in creating a treatment plan to achieve their goals.

Spinal conditions are often painful. They can cause a great deal of disruption to a person's lifestyle. My patients often comment that they sense how much I care about them and what they are going through. They also appreciate that I involve them in decisions to develop their personalized plan of care. It is a crucial component in helping them achieve the best results for their condition. I focus on incorporating non-surgical treatments whenever possible. If needed, spinal surgery often leads to substantial improvement in quality of life. Our team uses the best techniques and technology available. While no spinal treatment can give a person a "brand new spine", we use every means available to provide the best possible outcome. When patients can resume their hobbies and enjoy things they had given up due to their health issues, that is a success. It's highly rewarding to our care team.