Spectrum Generations request for proposals

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Spectrum Generations, Central Maine’s Area Agency on Aging, provides community-based services through the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III, parts B, C, E, and D. Spectrum Generations serves Kennebec, Somerset, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc Counties as well as the towns of Brunswick and Harpswell. The mission of Spectrum Generations is to promote and advance the well-being and independence of older and disabled adults, with the support of their care partners, to live in their community of choice.

To best serve local communities, Spectrum Generations seeks proposals to subcontract Older Americans Act services with local providers. Those services include: OAA Title IIIB, Money Minders, Community Center Activities for Older Adults, Telephone Reassurance, Adult Day Services, In-home Supportive Services (chore, personal care, and homemaker), OAA Title IIIC, Home Delivered Meals, Congregate Dining, Nutrition Counseling and Education, OAA Title IIID, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, OAA Title IIIE, and Care Partner Support Groups and Training.

Single-year grant agreements will cover a period of one fiscal year, beginning October 1 and ending September 30. Providers must be familiar and compliant with rules and policy sections of the Office of Aging and Disability Services, Maine Nutrition Standards, the Administration on Community Living, the Older Americans Act, and standard terms and conditions required by Maine employment law and contracting guidelines.

Providers must also demonstrate the capacity to continue quality services in the case of delayed state payments or reduced award amounts due to state contractual amendments. Federal Funds through the Older Americans Act are often not received until January for contracts starting in October and typically include 2 to 3 amendments during the contract year. Award amounts are based on service type, service area, and units of service. Any services provided by a subcontractor must fall within Spectrum Generations planning and service area listed above, though they need not cover the entire area. Providers must meet all requirements and submit all data prior to receiving payment. Providers may not means test or subcontract services.

Interested organizations must submit a Letter of Intent by June 28, 2024. Submissions will not be accepted after the closing date. Submissions should demonstrate the capacity to meet all requirements herein as well as the regulatory requirements from the sources listed above. Current subcontractors are not required to submit a letter of intent for those services currently under contract.

Email submissions to Nathan Miller at nmiller@spectrumgenerations.org with the subject ‘Letter of Intent.’

Inland Hospital expands orthopedic surgical services

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Northern Light Inland Hospital is proud to expand orthopedic surgical services for our community and region, making access to care quicker and easier – including same day access.

Inland welcomes four new orthopedic surgeons who will be part of Northern Light Orthopedics in Waterville: Gerard M. Benecki, MD; Jeff D. Headrick, MD; J. Mark MacNaughton, MD; and Michael J. Magee, MD. These experienced surgeons expand Inland’s expertise on a wide range of services including total joint replacements of the hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow; fracture care; arthroscopy; ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, and more. With more than 125 years of experience combined, our orthopedic surgical team will consult with patients and their providers on all these services and provide patients with a seamless connection to skilled rehabilitation care at Inland.

The surgeons are joining Brian Abbott, DO, at the Orthopedics practice in the Medical Arts Building next to Inland. Dr. Abbott provides non-surgical orthopedic care.

“Our community has been asking for more Orthopedic surgical care at Inland and we are pleased to respond to those needs,” says Tricia Costigan, Inland president. “Our new surgeons are highly skilled and committed to helping patients get back to their active life and improve their daily living. An important part of that commitment is getting patients seen as quickly as possible and that means on the same day if needed.”

For more information, contact Northern Light Orthopedics at 207.861.7862 or ask your primary care provider for a referral.

Northern Light Inland Hospital earns A grade for protecting patients

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Northern Light Inland Hospital has received the top score possible, an ‘A’, in the spring 2024 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade program. This national distinction recognizes Inland’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital.

“We are pleased to receive this honor,” said Tricia Costigan, Inland Hospital president. “We are about to celebrate Nurses Week and Hospital Week this month so it’s the perfect time to recognize all our staff for their dedication to providing the best patient experience possible. The A grade is a reflection of our teams’ focus on safety and service every day. We are very proud of this recognition and honored to serve our patients and their families!”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“Everyone who works at Inland Hospital should be proud of this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes complete dedication at every level, and an ironclad commitment to putting patients first. I thank Inland, its leadership, clinicians, staff, and volunteers for caring so deeply for its patients and their safety.”

To see Inland Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group drives a movement for giant leaps for patient safety.

New industrial business-space complex planned for Winslow

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Artist’s rendering of exterior look. (Contributed artwork)

submitted by Dave Carew

Kennebec Roofing, a family-owned business in Waterville, has begun construction of The Kennebec Roofing Industrial Annex (KIA), a premier, $2.8 million, 16,500 square foot industrial office-space property for local contractors and others, to be located at the high-visibility location of 875 China Road (Route 137), in Winslow, minutes away from Route 201 and Interstate 95. Named in memory of Kierra “KIA” Ann Lint, the strategic complex will offer state-of-the-art, 1,650-square-feet business spaces with mezzanine offices, garages, and amenities for mid-size contractors, such as roofing companies, those who install flooring, electricians, garage door companies, plumbers, and HVAC. At least 10 units are planned, which also may be used as warehouses or storefronts. A unit for sports organizations, available for rent by the hour or day for practice and games, will also be available, along with year-round storage facilities for boats and RVs.

View from the mezzanine. (Contributed artwork)

“The $2.8 million investment in The Kennebec Roofing Industrial Annex is critically important and impactful for our community,” said Garvan Donegan, Director of Planning, Innovation, and Economic Development for the Central Maine Growth Council. “This new commercial project brings much-needed commercial square-footage inventory into the Winslow and regional market, providing opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs to establish a presence in Winslow, Maine. The Central Maine Growth Council, in conjunction with the Town of Winslow, is available to discuss public-private finance tools and economic development programs to support businesses looking to benefit from this key development project.”

George Lint, owner of Kennebec Roofing and a Winslow native, said The Kennebec Roofing Industrial Annex represents the culmination of one of his major business goals. “I am excited to see my dream of developing a much-needed commercial and multi-use facility in my hometown become reality,” Lint said. “I’m looking forward to future expansion plans to benefit the entire Winslow community.”

Among the benefits of renting office/business space within The Kennebec Roofing Industrial Annex will be flexible lease options; a year-round, climate-controlled environment; ample parking for tenants and their clients; secure outdoor and indoor storage for equipment and materials; custom-building of units to meet specific business needs; and high-bay commercial doors that allow easy access for large equipment and vehicles.

For more information, please call Kennebec Roofing at (207) 873-6128.

MaineGeneral’s comprehensive spine program

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MaineGeneral Medical Center comprehensive spine team. (contributed photo)

Mary Beth Ranger, nurse navigator for spine and osteoporosis, is several months into her role helping patients with back issues find the right care, with the right clinician, as part of MaineGeneral Orthopaedics’ Comprehensive Spine Program. Not long ago, Mary Beth was sitting in the chair as a patient.

“I had chronic low back pain that was radiating down my legs. My doctor referred me to Stephen Clark, MD. I had tried non-operative interventions and ended up needing lumbar surgery. I had full confidence in Dr. Clark, and had a fabulous experience from beginning to end.”

Mary Beth is grateful to be in this role navigating and supporting patients to achieve the best possible outcome, like she did. MaineGeneral Orthopaedics’ Comprehensive Spine Program connects people with back issues to the care they need. The care team evaluates and diagnoses spine problems, and designs and carries out a treatment plan tailored to each individual’s needs and lifestyle.

Depending on their treatment plan, patients have the following care team members from the comprehensive spine program available to them:

• Nurses
• Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
• Physiatrists
• Physical Therapists
• Counselor
• Advanced Practice Practitioners (nurse practitioner, physician assistant)
• Medical Assistants

“Some patients are surprised to learn that we don’t automatically recommend surgery,” she says. “We believe a multifaceted approach works best to help you get back to living as actively and pain-free as possible. Spine surgery can be an effective treatment for some patients’ spinal problems. However, we know it is not the solution for many patients, and we nearly always attempt conservative management before surgical consideration.”

The Comprehensive Spine Program welcomes referrals from both medical professionals as well as directly from patients self-referring. “Many people feel fear because it’s their spine,” Mary Beth says. “I tell people it’s worth a discussion to see what your options are. Call to discuss next steps or learn more about the program.”

To learn more about MaineGeneral’s Comprehensive Spine Program, call (207) 621-8700 or visit www.mainegeneral.org/medical-services/ ortho/spinal-surgery.

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s premiere tradeshow to be held May 21, 2024

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Central Maine’s largest tradeshow, Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business Showcase, has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, noon to 6 p.m., at Thomas College Field House, West River Road, Waterville.

Reservations for booths at the showcase are still available to Mid-Maine Chamber member businesses only. For the most current list of exhibitors, please visit www.midmainechamber.com The showcase features nearly 100 exhibitors, free attendance and parking, cash bar, as well as a drawing for a $1,000 cash prize.

“The connections at the Showcase are unparalleled for a one-day event. If you are looking to get the word out about your business and network with other professionals, the Business-to-Business Showcase is really an unmatched opportunity for our region. Job-seekers will also find that many businesses are also hiring, offering the chance to speak directly to decision makers all under one roof,” said Cindy Stevens, Program Director for Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.

The Business-to-Business Showcase event is made possible by major sponsors Allen Insurance & Financial, Brookfield Renewable US, Central Maine Motors Auto Group, Central Maine Power, Colby College, Kennebec Savings Bank, Maine Technology Group, Maine State Credit Union and Northern Light Homecare & Hospice. Other sponsors include Kennebec Valley Community College and Northern Light Inland Hospital.

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advocating for business prosperity and regional economic improvement. Its region includes the towns of Albion, Belgrade, Belgrade Lakes, Benton, Branch Mills, Burnham, China, Clinton, Fairfield, Hinckley, Norridgewock, Oakland, Rome, Shawmut, Sidney, Thorndike, Unity, Vassalboro, Waterville, Weeks Mills and Winslow. For more information on the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, including how to become a member, call (207) 873-3315 or visit www.midmainechamber.com.

To address critical shortage Northern Light welcomes psychiatry residents

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In 2023, Northern Light Acadia Hospital launched a Psychiatry Residency Program to help fill a void left by the dwindling number of psychiatrists currently practicing in Maine. From 2020 to 2022, the number of licensed psychiatrists practicing in Maine dropped by more than half, from 110 to 50, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On the first day accepting applicants to its newly-launched residency program, Acadia Hospital had nearly 500 people apply for one of its four openings. Ultimately, 95 candidates were interviewed by program faculty and then ranked for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) selection process. Each spring the NRMP matches graduating medical students with residency programs at hospitals and universities across the nation. Candidates rank their favorite programs, and the programs in each specialty rank their favorite candidates. The NRMP then uses a computerized algorithm to determine where the budding physicians will train. Think of it as the NFL draft of medicine!

“We could not be more pleased to welcome these brilliant future psychiatrists to our new residency program,” says John Campbell, MD, FANPA, vice president and senior physician executive for Northern Light Acadia Hospital. “More than the quantity of candidates, which was certainly noteworthy, it is the quality of the applicants that really struck the selection committee. These four individuals are unquestionably the best of the best and we can’t wait to welcome them to Acadia Hospital, to Northern Light Health, and to Maine this June to begin their studies.”

On Friday, March 15, Acadia’s Residency program participated in its first “Match Day” and are pleased to introduce Acadia Hospital’s inaugural class of psychiatry Residents:

Kelly Anne Kossen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University. She will soon graduate from the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, with her medical degree. Kelly’s work over the past two years with The Trevor Project, a 24/7 crisis service focused on suicide prevention in LBGTQ+ youth, exemplifies her passion for service.

Adrielle Grace Massey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree with a concentration on Human Biology from the University of Montana. This spring she will graduate from the University of Washington School of Medicine, in Seattle, with her medical degree. As part of her medical training, Adrielle was also engaged in the Indian Health Pathway, a certificate program providing educational opportunities and experiences in American Indian/Alaska Native Health.

Emily Rose Schiller received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Michigan prior to obtaining a Master of Arts in a postbaccalaureate premedical program at Mount Holyoke College. She went on to attend Rutgers’ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in Piscataway, New Jersey. Emily has an impressive world/community health perspective built on a post-college internship in Liberia, as well as presentation on women’s health in rural Malawi for the National Institutes of Health Academy on Health Disparities.

Karen Jit Singh is a local resident of Hampden. She completed premedical training at the University of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. Following that, she attended the Medical University of the Americas (St. Kitts and Nevis.) Karen is currently finishing a transitional year of Internal Medicine at Merit Health Wesley Hospital, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She has been involved in research activities at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center including work on the opioid epidemic.

Acadia Hospital’s Residents begin their journey to becoming psychiatrists on June 17.

To learn more about Northern Light Acadia Hospital’s Psychiatry Residency Program, visit northernlighthealth.org/PsychiatryResidency.

HealthReach welcomes new clinician, Dr. Stacey Anderson

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Madison Area Health Center

Dr. Stacey Anderson

This April, staff of Madison Area Health Center are happy to welcome Dr. Stacey Anderson to their professional healthcare team.

Anderson earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Previously, she attended graduate studies in Bio­chem­istry at the University of California and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University. Dr. Anderson has a strong background in medicine, including a wealth of experience in OB/GYN and women’s health. We look forward to the knowledge and skill that Dr. Anderson will bring to the HealthReach team.

Anderson shares, “I am excited to join the team at the Madison Area Health Center. My goal, since starting Medicine as a career, has been to provide healthcare to underserved populations. My areas of special interest include Reproductive Health, Endocrinology focusing on Diabetes Care, and Whole Person Wellness.”

Anderson joins the existing Madison clinical team – Family Nurse Practitioners, JoHanna Davis and Jeanne Stokes; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Kelly Bell Bragg; Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Danna Lee; and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Lauren Emery.

New procedure at Northern Light Podiatry helps bunion sufferers

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Dr. Jared Wilkinson talks with a patient about bunions at Northern Light Podiatry, in Waterville, which is on the Inland Hospital campus. Contributed photo

Bunions, those bony bumps at the base of the big toe, can be painful and disrupt a person’s daily living – even making walking painful. Approximately 25 percent of people in the U.S. have bunions, including Cherie Merrill, from Monroe, who suffered in pain for nine months.

“I’m on my feet 90 percent of the day as executive director of the Belfast Food Kitchen, and my seven grandkids keep me very active,” says Merrill. But Merrill notes, “After this awful bunion developed, I had to slow down, and by the end of each day, I was in so much pain, I couldn’t even walk. It started as a minor pain in my left foot, and progressed to worse pain as the months went on.”

After being told that different shoes could fix her issue (which it did not), Merrill was happy to learn about an innovative new bunion surgery performed at Northern Light Inland Hospital, in Waterville, and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield. Podiatric surgeons are helping people like Merrill get back on their feet using a new tool in their toolbox – a special surgery called Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®.

Dr. Ashley Mychak, who performs surgeries at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield, says the Lapiplasty 3D procedure is an exciting new way to help bunion sufferers. Contributed photo

Dr. Ashley Mychak, DPM, podiatric surgeon with Northern Light Podiatry, in Pittsfield, is very excited about Lapiplasty®. Dr. Mychak explains, “It offers a 3D correction of the bunion at the root of the problem which is an unstable joint in the midfoot. Addressing the bunion where the deformity occurs allows for better long-term correction and decreases the risk of the bunion returning. We have seen that this special surgical procedure allows for earlier weightbearing on the foot in a surgical boot and a quicker return to normal shoes than with other types of bunion surgeries.”

Dr. Jared Wilkinson, DPM, with Northern Light Podiatry in Waterville shares, “A common misconception is that a bunion can just be shaved off, but bunions are much more complicated than that. Lapiplasty® allows us to return the bone to its proper alignment.” Dr. Wilkinson adds that the procedure is still bone surgery, which takes time to heal. “Each patient’s experience will be individual, but we are typically seeing great results overall. It is very gratifying to help people get back to their favorite activities and walking in their regular shoes without pain.”

Bunions can appear in people of all ages, both male and female. While Lapiplasty® addresses the unstable joint, it also corrects the cosmetic appearance of the protruding bunion.

Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. Rich Samson perform the special surgery at Inland Hospital and Dr. Mychak at Sebasticook Valley Hospital.

At Merrill’s eight-week post-surgery checkup, Dr. Mychak called her progress excellent. Merrill is walking without her surgical boot, and she’s feeling very encouraged about her recovery so far. While each situation is different, typically, patients can get back into comfortable shoes, like tennis shoes, approximately eight weeks after the procedure.

Merrill is grateful for this new step forward. “It’s exciting to think about getting my quality of life back. I am determined not to be limping and missing out on activities when we go camping this summer with all the kids. And I’m motivated because I still have a long bucket list of dreams to achieve!”

Most insurances cover the surgery if medically necessary. Ask your primary care provider for a referral to Northern Light Podiatry, in Pittsfield or Waterville, or for more information visit northernlight.org/Bunions.

Rogers promoted at Northern Light

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Rose Rogers

Rose Rogers, BSN, RN, was promoted to director of Northern Light Walk-In Care and Northern Light Inland Hospital Emergency Department. Rogers has been overseeing the ED since 2019 and her leadership role has now expanded to include Walk-In Care. Rogers has been with Inland Hospital for 14 years, starting as per diem nurse in the ED and becoming the ED night charge nurse, and then House Manager.