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Mayo earns Harvard Pilgrim honors
February 25, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Sixteen of Maine’s 36 acute care hospitals, including Mayo Regional Hospital, made Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's 2009 Hospital Honor Roll. The list recognizes acute care hospitals whose performance was among the top 25 percent of those measured nationally on a set of quality and patient experience measures, as reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid on Hospital Compare and the Leapfrog Group's patient safety measures.
Hospitals were evaluated on processes for caring for patients with heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and those having surgery. The results of patient surveys measuring hospital experiences were also included. Leapfrog patient safety data includes results hospitals achieved in intensive care unit (ICU) staffing, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), adherence to safe practices and preventing in-hospital injuries.
Maine hospitals earning Honor Roll recognition are Cary Medical Center, Caribou; Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston; Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor; Houlton Regional Hospital; Inland Hospital, Waterville; Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft; Miles Memorial Hospital, Damariscotta; Millinocket Regional Hospital; Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor; Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan; Sebasticook Valley Hospital, Pittsfield; Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford; St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor; St. Mary’s Medical Center, Lewiston; The Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle; and Waldo County General Hospital, Belfast.
Mayo seeks restored state ranking
February 25, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital has always been ranked as a Tier I preferred hospital by the Maine State Employee Health Commission, since rankings began several years ago for those covered under the state employee health plan.
The state uses quality and patient data developed by Medicare and used by the Maine Health Management Coalition to determine hospital ratings.
Until this year, tiering was based on Quality of Care -- measured by heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention indicators -- and on Patient Safety -- measured by the Leapfrog Survey and the Medication Spotlight Survey. Mayo has always been awarded blue ribbons for achieving both the select clinical quality and patient safety benchmarks, and still maintains them.
This year the Maine Health Management Coalition added Patient Experience to the ranking system as a new category needed for hospitals to qualify for preferred status. The MHMC is using survey questions mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and employs a national, standardized survey of hospital inpatients known as HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) in order to publicly report the patient's perspective of hospital care.
The HCAHPS survey is similar in its methodology to the Avatar patient satisfaction survey used by Mayo since 1999, but takes a much different approach to both the scoring and reporting of results.
The MHMC uses the HCAHPS survey to score hospitals solely on the Overall Score and "Willingness to Recommend" answers, and some questions are answered on a 1-10 scale rather than the five-point scale used by Avatar. Maine hospitals must exceed the national average for Overall Score with an "always" score of 9 or 10, and also exceed the national average for a "definitely yes" answer on Willingness to Recommend to be awarded a blue ribbon. Mayo did not achieve a blue ribbon in this Patient Experience area during the most recent reporting period, so despite earning blue ribbons in both quality and patient safety, we did not retain preferred hospital status as a result.
Mayo's Overall Score on the HCAHPS survey was 71.15, meaning that percentage of survey respondents ranked Mayo either a 9 or 10, placing us in the 76th percentile nationally. In contrast, Mayo's overall Avatar inpatient score for the same reporting period was 92.44, nearly 2 points higher than the national database average, and ranking Mayo in the 89th percentile.
We are working to understand these survey questions and their answers, and the often confusing and contradictory results. Our focus is on improvement of our overall Patient Experience scores in order to regain Mayo's preferred rating. The period of time covered by the current scores is performance from April 2008 - March 2009. CMS updates this data quarterly, and the State of Maine updates every 6 months. You can visit www.mhmc.info for an expanded explanation.
Mayo is not the only hospital to lose Tier 1 preferred status in the latest rankings. Of 36 Maine hospitals ranked by the State Employee Health Commission, 15 did not make the preferred list because they were not awarded a blue ribbon under the Patient Experience factor.
Maine state employees can continue receiving medical services from Mayo, but they will incur higher costs until Mayo is restored to Tier 1. Under the state employee health plan, inpatient admissions require a $100 per day co-pay ($300 calendar year maximum) and outpatient surgery requires a $50 co-pay. Both inpatient and outpatient co-pays are waived if services are provided at a preferred hospital. Colonoscopies and mammograms are fully covered regardless of which hospital state employees may go to, since there is no deductible or copayment for these screening services.
To learn more visit: mhmc.info
Auxiliary craft fair seeks vendors
February 11, 2010
Mayo Regional Hospital's Auxiliary is holding its first annual Craft Fair on March 12 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The fair will be held in the Resource Center's conference rooms at Mayo, located at the rear of the hospital on Dwelley Avenue.
Vendor tables are available for $25 and $30 each. Space is limited, so to reserve a table to sell your craft to a captured customer base of hospital employees, as well as members of the public, contact Gloria Leighton at 876-4480.
Mayo's Proctor passes HR certification exam
February 10, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Ken Proctor, Director of Human Resources at Mayo Regional Hospital, has earned certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
The certification, awarded by the HR Certification Institute, signifies that Proctor possesses the education, experience and demonstrated knowledge in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field.
To become certified, an applicant must pass a comprehensive examination and demonstrate a strong background in professional human resource experience.
The HR Certification Institute is the credentialing body for human resource professionals and is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest organization dedicated exclusively to the HR profession.
Proctor has worked for over 20 years in the Human Resources field, having held positions at the Federal Reserve Bank, a prominent Bangor law firm, the Bangor Mental Health Institute, and for the past 10 years at Mayo. Mayo Regional Hospital is the largest employer in Piscataquis County, with 385 full-time equivalent positions.
He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, and a master's in business from Husson University.
Heartwise plans free screenings in Brownville Jct., Dexter
February 10, 2010
The Heartwise Program at Mayo Regional Hospital has been awarded a grant from the Piscataquis Public Health Council, a local Healthy Maine Partnership in collaboration with the Maine Cardiovascular Health Program, to provide education about heart health, with free blood pressure testing and cholesterol screening. Dates and locations will be as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 25, from 12 noon until 4 p.m. at the Brownville Junction American Legion Hall
Saturday, Feb. 27, from 6:30 until 9:30 a.m. at the Dexter EMS Ambulance Building
For blood testing, people must fast (nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours before testing). Gas cards will be available for a drawing at each site. For more information, call Heartwise at 564-4207.
H1N1 flu vaccine available to public at Mayo
February 08, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - During the month of February, Mayo Regional Hospital will be offering H1N1 Influenza vaccine to the public. The flu shots will be available for visitors, families of patients, and anyone who is in need.
The vaccine will be administered during the day by WorkWISE, Mayo’s occupational health office, which is located in the Resource Center wing at the rear of the hospital. During times when WorkWISE is not available, the Nursing Supervisor on duty will administer the vaccine.
Allen Golf Classic
Allen Classic exceeds expectations
The 1st annual Dennis Allen Memorial Golf Classic was a success by any measure.
The tournament attracted a full field of 128 golfers to Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro on Sept. 23, and gross receipts were estimated at $26,000.
Once tournament expenses are deducted, Mayo Regional Hospital expects to have $20,000 in net revenues from the event and previous memorial contributions in Dennis Allen's name. Those funds will be used to purchase Automated External Defibrillators for placement in public access points throughout Mayo's service area.
Allen, who was Mayo's Chief Financial Officer for 30 years, died of a heart attack one year ago. The Allen Classic raises funds in his name to combat heart disease in the Penquis region.
The Allen Classic received outstanding sponsorship support. Acadia Benefits of Portland contributed $2,500 as course sponsor, and $1,500 donations from DiGiorgio Associates and Berry Dunn McNeil Parker sponsored both the lunch and dinner.
Other major sponsors, at $1,000 each, included Dahl-Chase Pathology Associates, Mayo Medical Staff, Gilman Electric, Medical Mutual Insurance Co., Merrill Lynch, The Thomas Agency, Central Maine Power, A.E. Robinson Oil Co., Dexter Family Practice, and Baker Newman & Noyes.
A Mayo team including Fran Moore, Jim Fowle, Bart Merrill and Gary Wakeland won low net with a score of 57.
Past Press Releases:
For more information or questions please contact Tom Lizotte, Marketing & Development Director of Mayo Regional Hospital, 207-564-4342 or e-mail tlizotte@mayohospital.com.
- Mayo schedules monthly neurology clinic Posted: 02-03-2010
- Maine hospitals begin MRSA testing Posted: 01-21-2010
- Heartwise Schedules Heart Month Events Posted: 01-20-2010
- New moms support group starts Jan. 14 Posted: 01-06-2010
- Mayo welcomes first baby of 2010 Posted: 01-06-2010
- AEDs distributed throughout region Posted: 12-22-2009
- Pine Tree Hospice names new Executive Director Posted: 12-17-2009
- Mayo adds child, adolescent psychiatry Posted: 12-16-2009
- Clinics scheduled as flu vaccine arrives Posted: 12-09-2009
- Midlevel providers fill gap created by scarcity of primary care physicians Posted: 12-03-2009
- Nurse practitioner joins Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine Posted: 11-19-2009
- Mayo Seniority hosts 2-1-1 program Nov. 17 Posted: 11-10-2009
- Nurse practitioner joins Milo Family Posted: 11-10-2009
- Renovations to start at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine Posted: 11-02-2009
- Mayo, collaborative win New England Rural Health Roundtable award Posted: 10-30-2009
- Mayo Seniority plans Portland shopping trip Posted: 10-30-2009
- Mayo upgrades CT system Posted: 10-28-2009
- Mayo’s Gagnon leads Maine nursing organization Posted: 10-28-2009
- 2-1-1 presentation scheduled Oct. 20 Posted: 10-07-2009
- VA starts Mobile Medical Unit Posted: 10-07-2009
- Allen Classic exceeds expectations Posted: 09-29-2009
- Mayo Auxiliary variety show set for Oct. 9 Posted: 09-28-2009
- HAD 4 Board approves Mayo’s 2010 budget Posted: 09-22-2009
- Heartwise Walk for Life set for Oct. 3 Posted: 09-21-2009
- Dr. McDermott installed as Maine Medical Association president Posted: 09-15-2009
Past News Releases
Mayo schedules monthly neurology clinic
February 03, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital has scheduled a monthly neurology clinic with Annette Goodman, D.O., beginning on Feb. 8 and continuing on the second Monday of each month.
The neurology clinic will be scheduled through Mayo Practice Associates at 564-4470, with Dr. Goodman seeing patients in the outpatient specialty clinic suite on the second floor of the hospital's medical office building.
Dr. Goodman is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, and autonomic nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to those structures.
Dr. Goodman is employed as a neurologist at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, and completed her neurology residency training from 2006-2009 at Garden City Hospital in Garden City, Mich., an affiliate of Michigan State University.
She completed her medical education at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa., and earned a B.S. degree at Penn State.
Maine hospitals begin MRSA testing
January 21, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - A new law passed by the Maine Legislature requires hospitals to perform targeted surveillance for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in high-risk populations as defined by the Maine Quality Forum.
MRSA is bacteria that can live without problems in the nose and on the skin of healthy people, but can also cause serious infections if the bacteria gets under the skin or into the body. A person may have MRSA bacteria on the skin and have no symptoms, but still be able to pass MRSA to others.
Some patients may be more likely to carry MRSA bacteria. Hospitals will be screening the following patients:
* Patients being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
* Patients who have spent a night in a hospital or nursing home sometime within the past 6 months.
* Patients undergoing hemodialysis.
* Patients coming from prison or jail.
If patients have any of these risk factors, a nurse will test them for MRSA. As with any treatment in the hospital, the patient has the right to decline the test. Mayo will not charge patients for MRSA screening required by the State of Maine.
Since the nose is a warm, moist place where bacteria are likely to grow, the simple MRSA test requires a nurse to gently touch inside a patient's nostrils with a soft swab. It will take one to two days to receive the test results.
For more information on MRSA testing, contact Mayo Infection Prevention at 564-4451.
Heartwise Schedules Heart Month Events
January 20, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Heartwise, the cardiac rehabilitation program at Mayo Regional Hospital, has scheduled a variety of activities during American Heart Month in February.
During Cardiac Rehab Week, Feb. 14-20, Heartwise will offer fasting lipid profiles and blood sugar lab tests at its suite in the Medical Office Building at Mayo Regional Hospital on Tuesday and Thursday, Feb. 16 and 18. Tests are available from 6:30-10 a.m. on both days, on a walk-in basis.
Throughout the month, Heartwise will promote the importance of a proper diet in preventing heart disease by labeling more than 2,000 items of Heart Healthy foods at participating supermarkets in the Penquis area. Stores cooperating in this effort include Goulette's IGA in Guilford, Shaw's in Dover-Foxcroft, Edward's SuperMarket in Dover-Foxcroft, Sav-A-Lot, and Bud's Shop 'n Save in Dexter.
Heartwise will participate on Feb. 5 in "Wear Red Day," the American Heart Association's effort to increase awareness of heart disease and stroke - the leading cause of death for women. On that day people from around Maine will be wearing red to focus attention on cardiovascular disease.
Heartwise's Phase III program, started in 1990, is designed for maintenance of health following a cardiac event. The Phase II program is designed for patients who have experienced a recent cardiac event, and was started in 1997. The two programs had 1,996 visits in 2009. For more information about Heartwise, call 564-4207.
New moms support group starts Jan. 14
January 06, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital's Obstetrics Department is starting a new moms support group for women who have recently had a baby. The group will meet the second Thursday of each month, starting Jan. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the hospital.
The group will help new mothers who need support with breastfeeding, sleep (or lack thereof), understanding baby's development, and the emotional ups and downs of motherhood. The group will also help women who just want to meet with other mothers. Light snacks will be provided.
The support group is a collaboration between Mayo Regional and the Parents Are Teachers, Too program at Penquis. For more information, contact Denise at 564-4417 or Jenny at 973-3581.
Mayo welcomes first baby of 2010
January 06, 2010
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital's Obstetrics Department welcomed the first baby of 2010 when Alicen Kane was born at 4:54 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2.
She is the daughter of Chandra and Douglas Kane of Monson, and the couple's third child born at Mayo. Alicen, who weighed 9.1 pounds and was 21 inches long, was delivered by Dr. Kathleen Thibault.
Alicen Kane was the first of five babies born at Mayo as of Jan. 6, continuing a busy trend from the previous year. Mayo recorded 188 births in 2009, the highest volume year of the past decade.
All Maine resident babies born in 2010 will be eligible for the Harold Alfond College Challenge to receive a $500 grant to start a NextGen College Investing Plan account. Philanthropist Harold Alfond set up the program before he died to ensure access to education for all Maine's children. There is no income limit or need to contribute additional money to receive the grant.
The Alfond Grant is made available by the Alfond Scholarship Foundation and is administered by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).
AEDs distributed throughout region
December 22, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital staged the 1st annual Dennis Allen Memorial Golf Classic on Sept. 23 at the Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. The tournament exceeded all expectations, attracting a full field of 128 golfers and earning gross receipts of $26,000.
After tournament expenses were paid, Mayo ended up with $20,000 in net revenues from the event and previous memorial contributions made in Dennis Allen's name. The tournament honors the memory of Allen, who died in 2008 of a heart attack after serving for 30 years as Chief Financial Officer at Mayo.
Proceeds from the tournament will be used by Mayo Regional to combat heart disease in the hospital's service area, as part of Mayo's commitment to the Maine HeartSafe Communities initiative. Funds raised from the first event have been used to buy Automated External Defibrillators, which will be placed in public access points throughout our region, from Dexter to Brownville, and Medford to Willimantic.
Mayo has worked with the regional Piscataquis Emergency Management Agency to identify appropriate sites for the AEDs, and there were enough funds available to purchase all 18 of the devices needed for our region, at a cost of $13,000. The hospital will also provide free training for all recipients.
The 18 AEDs were distributed on Dec. 21 to the following recipients:
Brownville town hall, Brownville Police Department and Brownville Fire Department; Willimantic Town Hall; Dexter Town Hall; Piscataquis County Courthouse and Piscataquis EMA mobile command center; Piscataquis Regional YMCA; Dover-Foxcroft Town Hall and Dover-Foxcroft Police Department; Center Theatre; Foxcroft Academy and Sedomocha Middle School; Penquis Higher Education Center; Guilford Town Hall; Sangerville Community Fitness; Medford Town Hall; and Dr. George Kousaie's medical office.
Early defibrillation is one of the four components of the Chain of Survival, the others being early access to emergency care, early CPR and early advanced care. Criteria for the HeartSafe Community program stress the importance of public AED placement and training for community members.
It has been estimated that more than 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. However, in cases where defibrillation is provided within 5-7 minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest jumps to 49 percent.
Pine Tree Hospice names new Executive Director
December 17, 2009
Jane Stitham, a long time resident of Dover-Foxcroft, will take the reins as the new Executive Director of Pine Tree Hospice on Jan. 4. She succeeds Cynthia Scott in that position.
Stitham holds a BS in Business Administration and a Masters in Education from the University of New Hampshire and brings a wealth of experience to the position. She was employed by the Charlotte White Center for 25 years, growing with the organization as it increased services and culminating her career there as the Chief Financial Officer.
Most recently, she served as the Interim Finance Director for Midcoast Maine Community Action.
Stitham will join the current PTH staff including Amy Madigan-Dube, Coordinator of Volunteers and Client Services; Sherri Jackins, Administrative Assistant; and Frances Spear, Staff Support.
Scott resigned from PTH to start a home-based business, Fresh Air Dogs, which provides in-home lodging and doggie day care with lots of TLC. Scott plans to continue to serve PTH as a volunteer on the Bereavement Committee and as an Evergreen facilitator and trainer.
Hospice volunteers provide companionship, respite care for caregivers, transportation to appointments, meal preparation, shopping, medication delivery and light housekeeping. Evergreen, a support group for grieving children and their families, meets weekly with trained facilitators. A monthly Bereavement Drop-In Group for adults is also available. In addition, volunteers provide grief support in the schools or for other groups upon request. To contact Pine Tree Hospice, call 564-4346 or visit the office located at 883 West Main St. on the Mayo Regional Hospital campus.
Mayo adds child, adolescent psychiatry
December 16, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - The Counseling Program at Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft has hired Corabell Arps, M.D., a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry, in order to expand the range of mental health services available in the Penquis region.
Dr. Arps, who was Medical Director and Psychiatrist since 2006 at Community Care of Maine in Bangor, is expected to begin delivering services at Mayo on Jan. 4, 2010. Dr. Arps is accepting new patients and welcomes referrals from all case management services who work with children.
Appointments with Dr. Arps may be made by calling the Mayo Counseling Program at 564-4110. Her office will be located in Mayos Counseling building at 69 High St., Dover-Foxcroft.
Dr. Arps has worked as a psychiatrist for 20 years. She has spent most of her career in Maine, serving on the staff of The Acadia Hospital in Bangor from 1992-2006 before joining Community Care of Maine. At Acadia, she was Medical Director and Psychiatrist for the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Programs, and was Medical Director of Adolescent Programs, among other duties.
Dr. Arps received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. She completed her internship in internal medicine/neurology from Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, and both her residency in general psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas.
Dr. Arps is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both general psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Clinics scheduled as flu vaccine arrives
December 09, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Increased supplies of seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine have been received, allowing physician practices associated with Mayo Regional Hospital to schedule public flu shot clinics.
At Guilford Medical Associates, seasonal flu shots will be available from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18.
At Dexter Family Practice, seasonal and H1N1 flu shots will be available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. while supplies last.
At Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine, seasonal flu shots will be available Saturday, Jan. 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
H1N1 and seasonal flu shots on
Dec 11, 18 and 21 from 8:30 11 a.m, and 1:30 3:30 p.m. for Milo Family Practice patients.
In addition, a special H1NI vaccine public clinic is planned for 9 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Resource Center conference rooms at Mayo Regional Hospital, with parking to the rear of the hospital in the Dwelley Avenue lot. This clinic will provide flu shots for people most at risk from the H1NI virus:
-- Pregnant women
-- Children and young adults (under 25)
-- People under 65 with chronic health conditions
-- Household contacts and caregivers of infants six months or younger.
Please bring your health insurance card with you for the Dec. 19 clinic. If you are uninsured, or if your insurance does not cover the full cost of the vaccination, there will be no charge.
Midlevel providers fill gap created by scarcity of primary care physicians
December 03, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - The supply of primary care doctors is drying up in the United States, and in rural Maine.
The pool of primary care physicians -- a category that includes family medicine doctors, general internists and general pediatricians -- is shrinking just as the need for them escalates as the Baby Boomer generation begins to turn 65, and requires increasing amounts of medical care.
The number of U.S. medical school students going into primary care has dropped 51.8% since 1997, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The AAFP is predicting a shortage of 40,000 family physicians in 2020, when demand is expected to spike. In Maine, there are unfilled openings for 87 primary care physicians right now.
The shortage of primary care doctors, who staff the front line for wellness and preventive-care programs that can help reduce health care costs, has been attributed to increasing numbers of physicians who choose to pursue medical subspecialties. Longer days, lower pay and more administrative duties have combined to make family medicine less attractive to many professionals when compared to other medical specialties, according to the AAFP.
Ben Dever, who manages Mayo Practice Associates’ network of doctors’ offices and serves as the medical staff recruiter for Mayo Regional Hospital, said hospitals are competing for a diminishing number of primary-care physicians. Mayo currently is attempting to fill three primary-care physician vacancies in Dover-Foxcroft and Milo.
Recruiting doctors to rural areas is especially challenging, since the majority of medical school students come from urban or suburban backgrounds, and most medical schools and residency training programs are located in or near population centers. “A recent survey of physicians in residency showed that only 4% preferred to practice in rural areas, although 20% of Americans live in rural towns,” said Dever.
As the doctor supply remains tight, Dever notes that patients may have increasing difficulty finding a physician, waits for appointments may grow longer, and more sick people will turn to busy emergency rooms. Or, if a patient goes to the doctor’s office, he may not be treated by his doctor: One way busy family physicians have been dealing with patients is to have basic medical care overseen by a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants -- sometimes called midlevel providers or physician extenders -- are masters-level trained, licensed healthcare professionals who can conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications, counsel on preventive care, and assist in surgery. At Mayo, every midlevel provider works under a plan of supervision with a physician from the hospital’s active medical staff.
Not all medical treatment requires a doctor’s direct involvement. “Much of what doctors can do can be handled by someone who doesn’t have an MD or DO after their name,” said Dever. “Using midlevel providers to help with basic care during office visits can free up the physician to see more of the patients who have acute needs and chronic illnesses.”
PAs and nurse practitioners play a central role as healthcare providers in the Mayo system, working in primary care physician offices, the Emergency Department, Mayo Orthopaedics, the Operating Room and the WorkWISE occupational health program. Mayo employs 14 PAs on a full-time or part-time basis, as well as five family nurse practitioners.
“Our recruitment of midlevel providers has been a real success story at Mayo, and a key factor in maintaining access to primary care services for our patients,” said Dever. “That has helped to fill the gap caused by the doctor shortage.”
Mayo has been especially successful with midlevel provider recruitment over the past year.
During that period, new physician assistants recruited by Mayo include David Nevins, PA-C, Dexter Family Practice; Joanne Reiniger, PA-C and Carolyn Weiss, PA-C, Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine; Hilary Hudson, PA-C, Mayo Orthopaedics; and David Johnson, PA-C, WorkWISE.
Nurse practitioners joining Mayo’s medical staff in 2009 include Diana Vandermast, FNP, Milo Family Practice; and Cindy Levick, FNP, Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine.
With the current healthcare environment attracting only half the number of primary care doctors needed to meet the U.S. demand, Dever feels the use of midlevel providers will only continue to grow, especially in rural areas where the physician shortage is most noticeable.
“If Congress passes healthcare reform that extends insurance coverage to a large part of the 47 million Americans who lack insurance, the demand on our primary care offices will be even greater,” said Dever.
That will translate into increased reliance on midlevel providers, as well as an increased appreciation for their capabilities.
“Mayo is fortunate to have a very experienced, dedicated group of physician assistants and nurse practitioners,” said Dever. “With our recent hires we are fully staffed for midlevel providers in all of our physician offices and in the hospital, for the first time in six years. That’s the silver lining in this story.”
Nurse practitioner joins Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine
November 19, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Cindy Levick, MSN, MPH has joined the medical staff at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
A National Health Service Corps Scholar, Levick comes to Dover-Foxcroft from Winslow, Arizona, where she had worked the previous two years as a nurse practitioner caring for adult and pediatric patients at the Winslow Indian Health Community Clinic.
Levick has been a Registered Nurse since 1997, when she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore. She returned to Johns Hopkins for her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 2007.
Levick initially earned a B.S. in Nutrition from Cornell University, followed in 1992 by a Master of Science in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. She then served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon, West Africa, working as a community health educator.
Returning to the U.S. to attend nursing school, Levick worked as a clinical instructor in community health nursing at Johns Hopkins and as an Emergency Department nurse in Baltimore before returning to the Peace Corps from 1999-2005. During that period she worked as a Peace Corps Medical Officer with postings in Niger, Africa; Fiji Islands, Pacific Ocean; and Bangladesh, Asia.
Mayo Seniority hosts 2-1-1 program Nov. 17
November 10, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital's Seniority program will offer a free informational session about United Way Maine's 2-1-1 program, as well as how to stay healthy during flu season, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 3-4 p.m. in the Sebec/Borestone conference rooms.
Pamela Frye, 2-1-1 resource coordinator for the United Way, will discuss information available through 2-1-1. Kirsty Pratley, RN, Mayo's infection control practitioner, will talk about how to stay healthy this winter.
Light refreshments will be provided and a door prize will be presented. Call 564-4427 for more information.
Nurse practitioner joins Milo Family
November 10, 2009
MILO- Diana Vandermast, RN, FNP-C has joined Dr. Kathleen Thibault and physician assistant Karen Nichols on the medical staff at Milo Family Practice.
Vandermast has worked as a family nurse practitioner in Maine since 2004, most recently in Washington County at the Healthways Regional Medical Center in Lubec and at an associated clinic in East Machias. She earlier was employed as a primary care provider at Mercy Primary Care in Westbrook.
Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Vandermast was a Registered Nurse from 2003-2004 at the New England Rehab Hospital in Portland.
Vandermast earned her Master of Science in Nursing through the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. She received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree through the Friends World Program at Long Island University, studying in Bangalore, India and Heredia, Costa Rica.
Renovations to start at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine
November 02, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - A 10-week renovation project to remodel and expand the space for the largest primary care medical office in Piscataquis County will be undertaken by Mayo Regional Hospital starting Nov. 9.
Mayo selected general contractor Dunbar & Brawn of Bangor, which submitted a low bid of $156,000, to renovate the first floor of the Medical Office Building on the hospital campus for Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine. The medical practice will occupy the entire first floor, expanding into space formerly used by Family Eyecare, which recently relocated to South Street.
The project is expected to be completed by Jan. 15, 2010.
"This project will increase access to primary care services for new patients at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine by opening up more space. By adding up to five offices and eight examination rooms, we will be better able to recruit new physicians and mid-level providers," said Elisa Thompson, M.D., medical director of the practice.
By occupying the building's entire first floor, Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine will have 2,200 square feet of new space, expanding operations by 30%, according to Ben Dever, director of Mayo Practice Associates. The practice plans to employ as many as eight healthcare providers, with four physicians and a mix of physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
The medical office currently employs Dr. Thompson and Pete Barnes, M.D., both family practice physicians, and pediatrician John Pearsall, M.D. Physician assistants Carolyn Wiese, PA-C and Joanne Reiniger, PA-C will be joined later this month by nurse practitioner Cynthia Levick, FNP.
In addition, nurse educators with Mayo's Diabetes and Nutrition Center will work out of space at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine as the practice moves toward the "medical home" model of primary care.
When finished, the project may allow Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine to extend lab draw services to patients in the office rather than requiring them to make a separate trip to the hospital laboratory, according to Trey Merrill, Lead Practice Coordinator. The waiting room will be enlarged to increase comfort, and overall confidentiality will be improved for patients, especially in the check-out process.
Merrill said all services will continue to be provided during the remodeling project, although some temporary changes will be made in the location of the waiting room and patient reception area during the first phase of construction.
Mayo, collaborative win New England Rural Health Roundtable award
October 30, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital is part of a working collaborative of 14 critical access hospitals across Maine that was recognized by the New England Rural Health Roundtable at its 12th annual symposium Oct. 30 in Portland for its efforts to improve patient safety in administering medications.
The President’s Award is presented by the Roundtable to a group or individual whose efforts in rural health have had a significant impact on the organizations who comprise the consortium, and recognizes broad benefits to health and innovative programs.
Over the last decade there has been explosive growth nationwide in the number of people taking multiple medications to treat a variety of chronic illnesses -- diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease -- yet people are often unsure how to manage their prescriptions correctly. Hospital staff help to ensure that patients take medications safely, and have the tools and information they need to manage their care and improve their health.
Improving procedures and approaches relevant to medication safety is a national challenge among hospitals. Mayo Regional Hospital has spent the last 18 months working with other rural hospitals in Maine to learn new ways to maximize the positive impact of the care they provide. Their work together is so impressive that Maine’s rural hospitals are now finding themselves in a national leadership role, sharing their work at conferences across the country.
"Mayo prides itself on providing quality patient care and we have found the opportunity to work with our peer hospitals in Maine to be a rewarding experience. All the hospitals have the same goal: ensuring that people in rural areas have access to the best health care. We’ve been excited to learn through the experiences of others," said Lynne Gagnon, Mayo's Director of Patient Care Services.
The working collaborative is using new technology and other tools to ensure quality and improve communication between health care providers and community members so everyone has accurate and understandable information about their medications and their health.
The work accomplished by the 14-member collaborative was funded by the Maine Health Access Foundation, which has worked with Mayo and the other member hospitals to disseminate outcomes and share its approach to medication safety.
Mayo Seniority plans Portland shopping trip
October 30, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - The Seniority Program at Mayo Regional Hospital will have its annual Portland holiday shopping trip on Friday, Nov. 13, with stops at either the South Portland Mall, Christmas Tree Shop or Cabela's outfitters.
The trip cost will be $53 for Seniority members and Mayo employees, and $63 for non-members. The price includes charter bus transportation, lunch at Old Country Buffet and a Christmas Tree Shop discount coupon. The bus will pick up in Milo, Dover-Foxcroft, Guilford and Dexter.
For more information, contact Lil Williams at Seniority, 564-4427. Reservation deadline is Nov. 9 and checks should be made out to MRH Seniority and mailed to Seniority, 897 West Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.
Mayo upgrades CT system
October 28, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Mayo Regional Hospital’s Radiology Department has greatly upgraded its Computed Tomography capabilities with the purchase and installation this month of a new, 32-slice Aquilion CT scanner.
The unit is scheduled to provide services in the Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville, Bingham and Jackman areas to patients already enrolled for VA care. Enrollment forms will be available at the mobile health clinic for veterans not currently receiving VA health services.
The system, manufactured by Toshiba, offers the latest technology in diagnostic imaging and is engineered for half-second, multi-slice scanning. The $514,000 investment was funded through Mayo’s annual capital equipment budget.
Mayo’s former CT scan offered single-slice capability. The new system provides 32 detector rows that accelerate the process of acquiring images by scanning larger areas of the human body in less time. Multiple, thinner data slices during a single rotation increases image resolution and quality, providing more anatomical detail, and allowing for a more comprehensive and accurate diagnosis.
In addition, the upgraded system improves dose management by using the lowest possible radiation and contrast exposure, without compromising image quality. The system uses individualized dose protocols; for example, automatically setting parameters for pediatric clinical studies based on a child’s age.
The CT scanner provides a more pleasant patient experience by using a larger hole to reduce claustrophobia. A wider patient table lowers to one foot off the floor to improve comfort and ease patient handling.
Mayo’s Gagnon leads Maine nursing organization
October 28, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Lynne Gagnon, Director of Patient Care Services at Mayo Regional Hospital, was elected President of OMNE/Nursing Leaders of Maine at the organization’s annual meeting earlier this month in Freeport.
Gagnon had served as OMNE’s president-elect during the past year. The new president-elect is Bobbi Cribby of Bridgton Hospital.
OMNE is a group of nursing leaders in Maine who direct the course for professional nursing by promoting sound healthcare policies at the state, local and national level. Towards this mission the organization creates an environment that encourages networking, unity and collaborative partnerships among all healthcare professionals.
OMNE membership is open to any registered nurse who wishes to develop leadership skills through education and mentorship. OMNE promotes the creation of healthcare environments that foster professional practices that are patient-centered and focused on quality, safety and healing.
Gagnon has been a Registered Nurse since 1972. She holds a BSN from the University of New York, Albany, and a Master’s in Business Science from Husson. She is also board certified as a Nurse Executive, Advanced, and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.
2-1-1 presentation scheduled Oct. 20
October 07, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Pam Levesque of United Way 2-1-1 Maine will provide a community presentation on the 2-1-1 system from 3-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Borestone/Sebec conference rooms at Mayo Regional Hospital. The public is invited, and there is no charge.
The 2-1-1 system is an easy, confidential and free way to connect citizens with information on services available to help them. Connecting with 2-1-1 Maine is as simple as dialing 2-1-1 on the telephone, or using the statewide internet directory at www.211maine.org.
For more information 211maine.org
VA starts Mobile Medical Unit
October 07, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - A Department of Veterans Affairs Mobile Medical Unit will be bringing primary and mental health care closer to the veteran population living in rural Piscataquis and Somerset counties. The pilot project providing health care outreach to rural veterans will begin this month.
The unit is scheduled to provide services in the Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville, Bingham and Jackman areas to patients already enrolled for VA care. Enrollment forms will be available at the mobile health clinic for veterans not currently receiving VA health services.
Services will be offered by appointment in the 53-foot-long mobile unit. There will be limited availability for walk-in visits.
A formal schedule for mobile unit visits, with a telephone number for appointments, will be posted soon on the Togus VA Medical Center web site at www.togus.va.gov.
The Dover-Foxcroft location will be on the Mayo Regional Hospital campus, behind Mayo Orthopedics on Dwelley Avenue. Site preparation work is now under way to construct a pad for the unit, with electrical hook-up.
Tentative plans call for the mobile unit to be at Mayo on alternate weeks, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The unit will be in Greenville on one Friday each month, parked next to Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital on Pritham Avenue.
The mobile unit will be in Somerset County every other week, located at the Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance Service on Main Street in Bingham on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On one Friday each month, the clinic will be in Jackman at the American Legion Post on Main Street.
Health services provided will be routine and follow-up primary care appointments, prescription refills/renewal, lab draws, mental health and social work services. Eligibility determination and enrollment will also be offered.
The mobile unit staff will include nurse practitioner Sherryl Kempton and Joanne Bradshaw, RN, along with Thomas Money, a licensed clinical social worker. Michel Bryant, MSA will provide support services.
The unit will have an electronic medical records system connected with the VA Medical Center at Togus.
Allen Classic exceeds expectations
September 29, 2009
The 1st annual Dennis Allen Memorial Golf Classic was a success by any measure.
The tournament attracted a full field of 128 golfers to Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro on Sept. 23, and gross receipts were estimated at $26,000.
Once tournament expenses are deducted, Mayo Regional Hospital expects to have $20,000 in net revenues from the event and previous memorial contributions in Dennis Allen’s name. Those funds will be used to purchase Automated External Defibrillators for placement in public access points throughout Mayo’s service area.
Allen, who was Mayo’s Chief Financial Officer for 30 years, died of a heart attack one year ago. The Allen Classic raises funds in his name to combat heart disease in the Penquis region.
The Allen Classic received outstanding sponsorship support. Acadia Benefits of Portland contributed $2,500 as course sponsor, and $1,500 donations from DiGiorgio Associates and Berry Dunn McNeil Parker sponsored both the lunch and dinner.
Other major sponsors, at $1,000 each, included Dahl-Chase Pathology Associates, Mayo Medical Staff, Gilman Electric, Medical Mutual Insurance Co., Merrill Lynch, The Thomas Agency, Central Maine Power, A.E. Robinson Oil Co., Dexter Family Practice, and Baker Newman & Noyes.
A Mayo team including Fran Moore, Jim Fowle, Bart Merrill and Gary Wakeland won low net with a score of 57.
Mayo Auxiliary variety show set for Oct. 9
September 28, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - The Mayo Regional Hospital Auxiliary will have its annual Variety Show on Friday, Oct. 9, starting 7 p.m. at the Center Theatre.
Admission is by donation, and tickets will be available at the door prior to the show. Advance tickets are also available at the volunteers’ office in Mayo’s lobby, at Mr. Paperback in Dover-Foxcroft and Heart’s Desire in Guilford.
Three acts are scheduled: harpist Kristin Dillon, the Abbot Hill Ramblers and the musical duo of Ken and Jane Brooks. Tom Lizotte will serve as master of ceremonies.
Refreshments will on sale. There will also be a raffle drawing with six prizes; raffle tickets are on sale from Auxiliary members at $1 each or six tickets for $5. All proceeds will be used to purchase equipment for Mayo’s Surgical Services Department.
HAD 4 Board approves Mayo’s 2010 budget
September 22, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - The Hospital Administrative District 4 Board of Directors has approved a fiscal year 2010 operating budget for Mayo Regional Hospital and its associated physician practices. The budget forecasts strong revenue growth and maintains Mayo’s current employment level.
Mayo anticipates net operating revenue of $43.5 million in the coming year. After expenses of $42.5 million are factored, Mayo expects to generate operating income of just over $1 million, for a margin of 2.4%, in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Net income is reinvested back into the nonprofit community hospital to fund depreciation, acquire new equipment and develop new programs.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Provenzano said total gross revenues are expected to increase by 8%, or $5.2 million, due to a combination of greater use of hospital inpatient and outpatient services, the addition of a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) service, integration of Charlotte White Center counseling services into the Mayo Counseling program, and general rate changes.
Provenzano said visits to Mayo-owned physician practices have been budgeted to increase by 11.5% due to projected increases in primary care providers at locations in Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter, Milo and Guilford.
Mayo plans a general rate increase of 3% to all service areas, which is in line with historical rates that have resulted in a 10-year average annual increase of 3.5%.
"Continuation of the hospital's financial improvement plan, which allowed Mayo to pare almost $3 million from the 2009-2010 expense budget, is largely responsible for the small rate increase that permits the hospital to counter inflationary increases," according to Mayo CEO Ralph Gabarro.
Mayo's rate of net bad debt and charity care to be absorbed by the hospital has been increased to 6% of overall hospital gross patient service revenue, or approximately $4.1 million. Over half of that amount is due to availability of free care based on the patient’s income and qualifying guidelines.
Mayo's work force next year, including hospital and physician office staff, is budgeted at 384 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, an increase of just one position over the previous year. Total salaries and benefits at Mayo will reach $27.4 million.
HAD 4 directors on Sept. 16 also authorized a hospital capital equipment budget of $942,000. Major purchases include a new ambulance, ultrasound equipment, information technology upgrades and operating room equipment.
Heartwise Walk for Life set for Oct. 3
September 21, 2009
DOVER-FOXCROFT - Plans are under way for the 19th annual Heartwise Walk for Life on Saturday, Oct. 3. The 3.1-mile, noncompetitive walk fundraiser helps support the cardiac rehabilitation program at Mayo Regional Hospital.
Registration for walkers begins at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA at 9:30 a.m., when pledges are collected. The walk starts at 10 a.m., and constitutes a loop through the streets of Dover-Foxcroft, beginning and ending at the YMCA.
All walkers receive a gift. Anyone who raises $25 or more in pledges also receives a T-shirt. Pledge forms are available from Heartwise in the Mayo Medical Office Building.
Sponsorship support is also sought for the walk. Businesses who donate $50-99 are listed as sponsors, those who donate $100-500 are listed as benefactors, and those who donate over $500 are listed as guardians on the T-shirt.
The walk is the major fund-raiser for Heartwise. Each year dozens of walkers bring in pledges and businesses contribute donations from Dover-Foxcroft, Guilford, Dexter, Milo and other area towns. The event annually raises around $13,000, with those funds used to purchase exercise equipment and provide scholarships for Heartwise patients.
Heartwise Director Judy Gerrish said scholarship funds are important due to the continued growth in the phase II program and limited insurance coverage for many patients.
Heartwise provides a Phase III program designed for maintenance following a cardiac event, and Phase II program designed for patients who have experienced a recent cardiac event.
Heartwise provides a program of supervised exercise and educational group sessions for people with some type of heart or blood vessel disease. For more information on Heartwise and the Walk for Life, contact 564-4207.
Dr. McDermott installed as Maine Medical Association president
September 15, 2009
BAR HARBOR - David McDermott, M.D., MPH of Dover-Foxcroft was installed as president of the Maine Medical Association during the group’s 156th annual session on Sept. 12 at Bar Harbor.
The MMA is a voluntary association of over 2,000 Maine physicians serving the profession and the public since 1853. Dr. McDermott will serve a one-year term as president, a part-time volunteer position working with MMA staff and the physicians of Maine to support Maine physicians, advance the quality of medicine in the state, and promote the health of all Maine citizens.
The MMA provides a wide variety of professional services to its member physicians, including professional/educational improvement, legislative and regulatory assistance, professional counsel, medical education assistance, public health, peer review, quality improvement programs and coding education. MMA supports more than 15 standing and ad hoc professional committees whose expertise benefits all doctors in the state.
The MMA also runs the Medical Professionals Health Program, which offers confidential support and guidance for physicians, dentists, pharmacists, podiatrists and soon to nurses in Maine who live with medical, psychiatric and chemical dependency issues that might affect their ability to practice.
Dr. McDermott is a Certified Physician Executive who has been a family practice physician on the active medical staff at Mayo Regional Hospital since 1993. After working for 15 years at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine, he transitioned from his primary care practice into a full-time role as Medical Director of Emergency Services in Mayo’s Emergency Department, in October, 2008.
As Medical Director, McDermott supervises an ED provider team that includes a blend of physicians and physician assistants. His responsibilities include budget planning, recruitment and credentialing, compliance with state and federal ED licensure regulations, and oversight of quality improvement initiatives. He regularly works shifts to cover the ED schedule.
A graduate of the University of Rochester, Dr. McDermott earned his medical degree at University of Vermont College of Medicine, and completed his residency training in family practice at Maine Medical Center in 1989. He also earned a Masters of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts in 2008.
After serving as a staff physician in the U.S. Air Force from 1989-1993, Dr. McDermott joined Mayo’s active medical staff that year and later served as the hospital’s Medical Staff President from 1999-2004. He is certified by the American Board of Family Practice and the Certifying Commission on Medical Management, a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association.