LEBANON, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A $10 million donation from Upper Valley philanthropist and retired Dartmouth professor Kenneth R. French will help Dartmouth Health launch an ambitious initiative aimed at delivering hospital-level medical care directly in patients’ homes across rural New Hampshire and Vermont.

The investment will establish the Vickie French Hospital at Home, a new program named in memory of French’s late wife, Vickie. The initiative is expected to become a cornerstone of Dartmouth Health at Home, a broader effort to rethink how healthcare is delivered in rural communities where access to hospitals and specialists can require lengthy travel.

Hospital leaders say the program will allow eligible patients with conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure and other acute illnesses to receive treatment, monitoring and specialist consultations at home instead of being admitted to a hospital. The model is also expected to support patients recovering from surgery, those transitioning out of inpatient care earlier, and eventually individuals needing rehabilitation or palliative services.

According to Dartmouth Health President and CEO Joanne Conroy, the initiative represents a major step toward modernizing healthcare delivery in rural regions while helping patients remain in familiar surroundings.

The concept grew out of years of discussions between Kenneth and Vickie French about the challenges older adults face when seeking care in northern New England. Their vision centered on using technology and coordinated medical services to bring advanced care to patients rather than requiring patients to travel long distances for treatment.

Nathan Goldstein, chair of Dartmouth Health’s Department of Medicine and a geriatrics specialist at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, said home-based care can offer significant advantages for older adults. He noted that patients often recover more comfortably and maintain stronger connections to family and community when they can remain at home during treatment.

The new program will operate alongside Dartmouth Health Home Care, formerly known as Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire. Together, the services are intended to create a continuum of care that extends beyond traditional hospital walls.

Dartmouth Health officials say the timing is especially significant as the nation’s population ages. By 2040, more than 80 million Americans are expected to be age 65 or older, increasing demand for healthcare services while placing additional strain on existing systems.

French, who served as the Roth Family Distinguished Professor of Finance at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, said he and his wife believed rural residents should not have to choose between receiving high-quality medical care and remaining in their communities. He said advances in technology have made home-based hospital care increasingly feasible, and the gift is intended to help turn that vision into reality.

The donation continues a long history of healthcare philanthropy by the French family. In 2008, the couple helped expand telemedicine services for Dartmouth Health’s Child Advocacy and Protection Program, an effort that broadened access to specialized care for children in rural areas years before virtual healthcare became commonplace.

Dartmouth Health leaders say the Hospital at Home program has the potential to serve as a model for other rural healthcare systems across the country, demonstrating how advanced medical services can be delivered safely and effectively outside of traditional hospital settings.