A regional approach to hiring and sharing echosonographers between MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital and MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital has enabled the hospitals to overcome staffing challenges while improving patient experiences.

By aligning and leveraging shared expertise, the two hospitals now share an efficient, integrated team that ensures patients receive high-quality echosonograms, which are scans of patients’ hearts, closer to home. This regional approach has not only improved patient outcomes but has also streamlined workflows and increased capacity, so wait times are shorter. Lincoln Hospital has nearly tripled the number of echosonograms it’s able to perform each day.

Inspired by this successful partnership, surgeons, gastroenterologists and operational leaders from across the four hospitals along coastal Maine came together to address another pressing issue: reducing wait times for screening colonoscopies. By aligning and sharing resources across the region, wait times for colonoscopies are beginning to shorten. For example, a surgeon at Mid Coast Hospital with open time in his schedule has been able to perform procedures at Lincoln Hospital, where operating rooms have capacity.

Kirk Bernadino, MD

“As expected, each place has its own challenges with available resources,” said gastroenterologist Kirk Bernadino, MD, from MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital. “Some have more anesthesia resources, while others have endoscopy or physician resources.” Aligning resources to get screening colonoscopies done sooner, he said, “is one small solution to getting us there.”

While the regional structure has created operational efficiencies and more manageable schedules for care team members, the real winners are the patients, who can now schedule a procedure close to home with a much shorter wait time. This success underscores MaineHealth’s commitment to its vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.

Advanced Heart Care Close to Home

MaineHealth delivers cardiovascular services through an integrated network of care locations, health care providers and specialists—built with patient needs at the very center. We provide comprehensive heart and vascular care to Maine and Mt. Washington Valley residents. Our coordinated care is designed to achieve the best possible cardiac and vascular outcomes.

Learn more about heart care at MaineHealth.

Mountain Region Creates Regional Clinical Nutrition Model of Care

Registered dietitians use evidence-based practice that is specific to a patient’s nutritional goals and may be provided through individual patient counseling or group classes. Pictured here from left, Leslie White, MPH, RD, LD, CSOWM, and Marcy Lawless, MS, RD, LD, teach a lifestyle nutrition class.

Soon after Marcy Lawless, MS, RD, LD, a dietitian at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, began providing per diem nutrition services at MaineHealth Stephens Hospital, she recognized the opportunity for an enhanced model of nutrition care across multiple MaineHealth hospitals.

While clinical nutrition services have been a longstanding feature at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, neither Stephens Hospital nor MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in New Hampshire had an onsite dietitian. After discussing the issue with Franklin President Barbara Sergio, the idea of creating a regional approach for clinical nutrition services was introduced.

Barbara Sergio, BSN, MSHA, CPHQ

“As a region of smaller community hospitals, it’s difficult to stand up programs in just one location. So when Marcy and I started talking about the opportunity to work on this as a region, it was exciting to see what that model could look like,” Sergio said.

Lawless was appointed the regional nutrition manager for the mountain region, supervising all dietitians and diet technicians for both inpatient care and outpatient counseling services at Franklin Hospital, Stephens Hospital and Memorial Hospital. The nutrition team, now consisting of eight care team members, has expanded its expertise under Lawless’ leadership.

“Coming into the position, my goals were unifying the nutrition care model to ensure that we provide the best nutrition care under the guidance of what the science dictates and to make certain that patient care is consistent at all three hospitals,” said Lawless. “I have hired three fantastic new dietitians who bring with them expertise in areas that we were lacking; as a result, I really feel that the depth of knowledge that we can offer as a team has become enriched.”

Providing high-quality nutrition care significantly impacts patients’ health, improving patient outcomes and well-being. By thinking regionally, Lawless and her team can now cover all three hospitals and prevent gaps in nutrition care for their patients.

Compassionate clinical nutrition services, close to home

Nutrition plays a key role in preventing and treating many diseases. MaineHealth provides patients with diet education and counseling to achieve better health.

Learn more about nutrition services at MaineHealth.

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