Spring 2009
In this issue Safer healthcare for you Making a difference with medical research News you can use from EMMC’s Stroke Center of Excellence
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Caring for patients, families, communities, and one another
President’s message
Serving our community’s cardiovascular needs Deborah Carey Johnson, RN President and CEO
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he circulatory system, consisting of the heart and blood vessels, is an intricate system that carries oxygen and nutrients to our cells to sustain life. When vascular disease threatens the function of this system, a life is at stake. The experts at EMMC’s Heart Center and Vascular Care of Maine specialize in leading-edge treatments that address the disease and restore circulation and quality of life. The Heart Center of Eastern Maine provides a full complement of services, from minimally invasive procedures to heart valve replacement surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, and prevention. Vascular Care of Maine is the only comprehensive vascular care center in Maine, with six board-certified vascular physicians providing all manner of treatments, from open surgical interventions to minimally invasive, limb-sparing procedures to clear plaque from the tiny arteries in the legs. Why is this important to you and your family? Cardiovascular disease claims more Maine lives each year than any other disease. Few of us can say that cardiovascular disease hasn’t touched someone we know or love. Most of us are at some level of risk. In many cases, we can prevent the diseases that threaten the circulation of our lifeblood. This issue of The Eagle will tell you more about EMMC’s many efforts to provide state-of-the-art treatment and management of circulatory disease. Our physicians and their Maine patients are participating in national research programs that will help develop the next generation of treatments. Whether you need risk assessment, prevention education, medical or surgical treatment, or rehabilitation, EMMC is here and ready to meet your needs. Wishing you a safe and healthy spring,
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A premier healthcare resource for the people of our region
TheEagle
In this issue
Spring 2009
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Inspiring confidence in care
Images on pages 3, 7 and 10 © istockphoto.com/mustafa deliormanli/CAP53; Image on page 12 © 2009 Jupiterimages Corp.
Safer healthcare for you
EMMC’s cardiac wellness program helps save lives
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Electrophysiology procedures close to home
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Mitral valve disease: Early intervention is key
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Making a difference with medical research
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What’s new in vascular surgery?
Physician spotlight Meet Dr. Ashley Robertson
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The challenge of childhood obesity
What’s new? Happening this spring
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Know your risk for stroke
Employee spotlight Making a Splash at EMMC • Denise Sullivan, CMA • Janice Dionne
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Our commitment to quality
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Responding to the needs of our patients and communities
Safer healthcare for you EMMC wins Davies Award.
O Critical care nurses in EMMC’s Critical Care Connection monitor vital signs and provide remote assistance to critical care providers in northern, eastern, and central Maine.
ver the last several decades, the practice of healthcare at EMMC has become increasingly sophisticated. From primary care practice to EMMC’s operating rooms, evidence of the latest in healthcare technology is all around you. Not as visible, but equally important, is the array of new, integrated information systems at work in the background to make sure you receive the safest care possible. EMMC’s creative use of technology caught the attention of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and last fall EMMC became the year’s only winner of the Nicholas E. Davies Organizational Award of Excellence. This prestigious award is given to select hospitals for effectively using information technology to improve the safety and quality of patient care.
Technology at home …
Frank Bragg, MD (right), uses the electronic medical record at Husson Internal Medicine during a visit with a patient.
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For more than a decade, EMMC, as a member of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, has been investing in technology for an interconnected information system in both inpatient and outpatient areas. Frank Bragg, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Husson Internal Medicine, has seen firsthand how technology advancements have helped him and his patients. “Healthcare is essentially an information-based service, and access to complete information helps me give better care,” explains Dr. Bragg. “When I see patients
in my office, I can access any Walk-In Care or Emergency Room visits; I have the notes, test results, and hospital records, so I can follow up and maintain continuity of care. Based on all I know about them, I can adjust medications or give advice to better manage patients’ health and help them avoid future emergency visits.” That same complete record is available to inpatient caregivers at EMMC when a patient is hospitalized.
… and throughout Maine Many recent technology initiatives, like EMMC’s Critical Care Connection, are made possible through federal grant money. Critical Care Connection enables EMMC nurses and specialists to monitor other hospitals’ patients remotely. Information technology allows EMMC professionals to become a long-distance extension of the local hospital’s care team, giving hospitalized patients in Maine’s rural areas access to EMMC critical care experts. Mary McCarthy, RN, department head nurse for Critical Care Connection, stresses that this technology is meant to complement, not replace, the human touch. “Critical Care Connection adds an extra layer of safety,” says Mary. “Healthcare is about people, and human interaction is an important part of the healing process. The care bedside nurses provide can’t be replaced. Still, the technology helps deliver the right care, at the right time, to the right patient.”
Sharing healthcare resources to benefit our patients
EMMC’s cardiac wellness program helps save lives
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he American Heart Association reports that 80 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Maine residents with CVD, however, are luckier than most. Established in 1981 and certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Cardiac Wellness of Maine at EMMC is a stateof-the-art cardiac rehabilitation and prevention facility.
Inpatient and outpatient support “Our programs are for inpatients and outpatients. We offer a multidisciplinary
approach by well-trained staff,” says Debi McCann, RN, CCRN, director of Cardiac Wellness of Maine. The program is under the direction of a cardiologist, and the staff includes registered nurses certified in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiologists, and a dietitian who is certified as a diabetic educator. The inpatient program educates and supports patients who have had a cardiac event. “Inpatient rehabilitation provides the patient with the tools to make healthy lifestyle choices and prepares them for discharge,” says McCann. The care and support go well beyond inpatient care. “Exercise classes in the Cardiovascular Fitness Center, daily education sessions, and cooking classes
Compliments of EMMC’s Cardiac Wellness of Maine
Be heart healthy! Cardiac Wellness of Maine requires a referral from your doctor. Call (207) 973-4600 for more information about the cardiac wellness program.
Italian sausage and white bean soup
What’s cookin’?
Healthy spring recipe
provide our outpatients and their families with the information they need to live a healthy lifestyle,” says McCann. Another great resource—the Cardiovascular Learning Center—is open to the public, with up-to-date health information and computer stations. In addition, community education classes are often held in the Heart Healthy Lifestyle Education Center.
Serves six Ingredients 1 cup green pepper—chopped ¾ cup onion— chopped 1 clove garlic—crushed 2 oz hot sausage— casing removed 1 tsp basil—dried 1 tsp oregano—dried 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans—rinsed and drained
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• 1 can (15 oz) •
tomatoes—diced and undrained 1 can (15 oz) chicken broth—low sodium and fat-free
Heat a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over mediumhigh heat. Add peppers, onion, and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Add sausage
and cook until browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in remaining ingredients; reduce to medium-low heat and cook until thoroughly heated (about 5 minutes). Serving Size: 1 cup NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per serving): 99 calories; 18 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 1 g total fat; 0 g saturated and trans fat; 8 mg cholesterol; 472 mg sodium; 6 g fiber.
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Our mission is to care.
Electrophysiology procedures close to home
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lectricity provides the power in our homes and businesses, but many people may not realize it also keeps our bodies running. The heart’s electrical system controls the rhythmic contractions that keep blood pumping and circulating throughout our bodies. Without our own electricity, we wouldn’t be able to survive. And much like the wind can cause a power outage by knocking down power lines near our homes, certain things can cause the heart’s electrical system and the heart’s rhythm to malfunction. For more than 20 years, the Heart Center of Eastern Maine at EMMC has provided the expertise and experience to help patients suffering from heart rhythm
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abnormalities. Over the years, we’ve grown to meet patients’ needs in the region. But it was only recently, with the addition of electrophysiologists Amrit Guptan, MD, and Ashok Talreja, MD, that we’re able to treat more complicated cardiac electrical disorders.
On-site intracardiac ablations “EMMC’s Electrophysiology (EP) Program covers two important aspects of cardiovascular care—devices and intracardiac ablations,” says Dr. Guptan. “In the past, patients were referred to Boston to treat a condition such as atrial fibrillation (a fluttery heartbeat). Now we’re able to diagnose and treat those conditions right here at EMMC.” In an EP study, a catheter is inserted into a leg vein and guided into the heart. At the end of the catheter is a tiny electrode that measures
the heart’s electrical activity. The electrode is used to stimulate the heart with electric impulses, with the intention of recreating the abnormal rhythm. Once Drs. Guptan and Talreja are able to recreate the abnormal activity, they can determine the cause and, if appropriate, perform a procedure known as ablation. “We use a special catheter that delivers either radiofrequency signals or a freezing agent in the abnormal area. These treatments restore normal heart rhythm,” says Dr. Guptan.
Implanting cardiac devices The physicians and their team of healthcare providers are also skilled at implanting devices such as pacemakers. Implanted in the chest (generally under the collarbone), a pacemaker helps regulate a patient’s heart rhythm. Similarly, cardioverter defibrillators are implanted in the chest to monitor a patient’s heart rate. More advanced devices called biventricular pacers or defibrillators can actually synchronize cardiac contractions, providing a more effective function in damaged hearts. The Heart Center also participates in research protocols and registries to use the most innovative techniques for better outcomes and to further the understanding of cardiac electrophysiology. We’re committed to making sure cardiac patients in our region receive the best-practice standards in quality care as close to home as possible.
Preventing illness, restoring health, and enhancing quality of life
Pat Taber (pictured here with his wife, Shari, and granddaughter, Kayla) underwent open heart surgery to repair his mitral valve in April 2007. Two years later, Pat is doing great.
Mitral valve disease:
Early intervention is key
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or years, Pat Taber participated in the annual Trek Across Maine, a 180-mile bike ride to benefit the American Lung Association, and finished with ease. One year, when
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Take the first step!
ontact your primary care provider if you have any of the following mitral valve disease symptoms, and take the first step toward early intervention: shortness of breath severe swelling p alpitations, rapid thumping, or a pounding sensation in your chest chest pain f ainting or light-headedness l ow or high blood pressure (depending upon the affected valve) abdominal pain lethargy increased wet coughing decreased endurance
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he had trouble keeping up, he chalked it up to middle age. His assumption was wrong. Pat learned he had mitral valve prolapse, a condition in which the valve between the heart’s upper left chamber (left atrium) and lower left chamber (left ventricle) doesn’t close properly. The condition disrupts the heart’s blood flow and can cause blood to leak back into the left atrium. Pat’s prolapse was fairly mild, and he kept his condition under control with exercise and careful monitoring for eight years. In 2007, however, Pat noticed increasing difficulty with exercise and a persistent cough that was worse at night. “At first, I blamed my symptoms on age and my wife’s scented candles,” jokes Pat. “But then I went for my annual physical, and my family doctor told me it was time for another visit to the specialist.” After an echocardiogram, Pat’s cardiologist at Northeast Cardiology Associates told him he needed surgery to repair the valve.
A team approach Pat’s surgeon, Robert Clough, MD, FACS, Cardiothoracic Surgery of Maine’s lead physician and section
head of Cardiac Surgery at EMMC, points out that Pat’s case is typical of what happens with a successful team of healthcare providers. Primary care providers, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons working together can produce better patient outcomes. In Pat’s case, a problem was detected early, successfully managed for years, and, when it was necessary, surgically repaired. “The increase in valve operations is a direct result of improved surgical techniques, better diagnostic methods, and increased awareness of the benefit of early diagnosis and intervention,” says Dr. Clough. Early intervention often means the difference between valve repair and valve replacement. “The surgeons in this practice were trained by pioneers in mitral valve repair and have maintained a strong belief in its value,” he adds. Since the start of cardiac surgery at EMMC in 1987, more than 3,000 valve operations have been completed with superb results. Cardiothoracic Surgery of Maine’s surgeons are on the leading edge and continue to share in the evolution of the latest techniques.
Since the start of cardiac surgery at EMMC in 1987, more than 3,000 valve operations have been completed with superb results.
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Keeping care close to home
Making a difference with medical research EMMC’s research studies benefit today’s patients, as well as those in the future.
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xciting medical breakthroughs are happening almost every day. From the latest developments in cancer treatments to foods that can prolong life and increase your energy, medical research is continually transforming the way we think about our health. Research takes place at many locations throughout the United States and the world, including at EMMC. EMMC’s leaders and healthcare providers believe you deserve to have access to the latest and most innovative treatment options, no matter what your health condition. With support from EMMC’s Clinical Research Center, many departments at EMMC participate in research endeavors, ensuring Maine residents are helping to advance the science of medicine. The Heart Center of Eastern Maine and Vascular Care of Maine are two such departments.
led by Felix Hernandez, MD, FACS, FACC, a cardiac surgeon and EMMC’s chief of surgery, completed a study that compared postsurgical brain function after off-pump surgery, in which the heart is not stopped during surgery, with on-pump surgery, in which the heart is stopped during surgery. The research, published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, indicated using an off-pump surgical technique didn’t result in improved cognitive function compared to the on-pump technique. “The study was valuable because it will help redirect research in the future and help us focus on other techniques to improve the effectiveness of on- and off-pump surgery,” says Dr. Hernandez. “Both these procedures are already very effective and relatively safe, but we should never stop looking for ways to improve how we deliver care to our patients.”
A leader in cardiac research
Vascular research improves patient outcomes
Since 1987, the Heart Center of Eastern Maine has participated in the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group, a group dedicated to improving the quality, safety, effectiveness, and cost of medical treatment for cardiovascular disease. By working together with other clinicians in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, EMMC’s cardiologists and surgeons collect and analyze data about a variety of cardiac conditions and their treatments. In 2008, a team of EMMC researchers
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EMMC’s Vascular Care of Maine also participates in research projects. One current study is looking at the use of minimally invasive stent placement
Are you a candidate? To learn more about EMMC’s clinical trials, visit the Clinical Research Center at www.
emmcclinicalresearch.org or call (207) 973-4767.
Maintaining a culture of caring
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The results we’re achieving … are as good as, if not better than, any other institution in our region.
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— Robert Cambria, MD
for patients whose carotid artery has narrowed. Larry Flanagan, MD, the vascular surgery section head at EMMC, is part of such a study. This multicenter study is sponsored by Abbott Laboratories and explores the safety of this procedure. So far, EMMC has successfully enrolled 62 patients in the study. Carotid stenting is seen as an alternative to traditional carotid endarterectomy and provides some advantages to select patients, specifically those who have a very high risk for invasive surgery. Carotid endarterectomy remains the safest procedure for most patients. When
a patient is in need of a procedure, vascular surgeons consider the best option for that particular patient. The process of selecting the appropriate procedure for each patient is a focus of the current study. “The more knowledge we an obtain, the more we’re able to recommend the most appropriate, most effective, and safest therapy for a patient’s specific vascular problem,” says Dr. Flanagan.
Ensuring access to the latest treatments Research provides a communitywide benefit in that it expands the number of patients eligible for Medicare reimbursement for the
procedure. Many of these patients may not have been eligible for care under the general Medicare guidelines. Carrie Arsenault, RHIT, CPC, who assists Dr. Flanagan with the research, has enjoyed being able to expand services to even more patients. “The extensive administrative work associated with a research project is well worth it when you witness a patient benefiting from a service that he or she may not have received without the project,” she says. Since 2003, EMMC has been a member of the Vascular Study Group of Northern New England. The group maintains a data registry with information provided by nine hospitals in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Similar to the cardiac study group, the goal is to improve quality, safety, effectiveness, and cost. “EMMC has submitted data for 1,300 cases, and there are 8,600 cases in the registry,” explains Robert Cambria, MD, vascular surgeon. “The results we’re achieving at EMMC are as good as, if not better than, any other institution in our region.”
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Supporting ongoing training and education for our employees
What’s new in vascular surgery? Less invasive vascular repair procedures
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New aneurysm repairs
MMC healthcare providers bring the newest innovations in minimally invasive surgery to central, northern, and eastern Maine. Many patients treated at Vascular Care of Maine for arterial and venous disorders are out of the hospital within hours or a few days. In the past, these surgeries would have required invasive surgery followed by a lengthy hospital stay.
“Advances in minimally invasive vascular surgery allow us to offer procedures for both arterial and venous circulation,” says Robert Cambria, MD, vascular surgeon.
Varicose vein treatments
Endovenous ablation techniques are now used for patients with varicose veins and venous insufficiency. Catheter-based vein destruction using some form of heat has replaced surgical stripping of diseased veins. “We offer both radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser therapy, depending on the clinical scenario,” says Dr. Cambria. “In other situations, we can use sclerotherapy injections, which are done in our office, to manage isolated or recurrent varicose veins.” Catheter-based techniques also are used to treat arterial occlusive disease caused by blocked vessels. “For the last several years, balloon angioplasty combined with endovascular stenting has been used successfully,” he says. More recently, Dr. Cambria adds, plaque excision techniques have gained We’re here to help popularity. For a tour of EMMC’s Vascular “By combining Care of Maine, visit www.emmc. both open and org and click on “Vascular Care of endovascular Maine,” then “Virtual Tour.” techniques,
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he says, “we’re able to customize the procedure to the patient to achieve the best possible outcome.”
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Some patients with abdominal aneurysms have minimally invasive treatment options. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are now often treated with endografts—tiny metal tubes placed by a surgeon through small incisions in the groin—to reinforce the vessel. Dr. Cambria says this procedure used to have a weeklong hospital stay followed by several weeks of recovery. Now some patients leave the hospital the next day, followed by a few weeks of recovery. Vascular Care of Maine now performs more than half of aneurysm repairs with minimally invasive techniques. Aneurysms in aortic branch vessels can sometimes be treated with embolization techniques, which deposit small metallic coils into abnormal arteries, causing them to clot off and no longer pose a threat. Occlusive disease in the arteries leading to the legs is often treated with balloon angioplasty and stents—both outpatient procedures. Vascular Care of Maine also participates in a regional registry along with many other northern New England hospitals. This registry examines data on many less invasive techniques to learn which procedures are best in a given situation. In this way, we not only offer the latest possible therapies but also continue to add to our knowledge and improve our patients’ outcomes.
Delivering exceptional care
Physician spotlight
Helping the community stay healthy Meet vascular internist Ashley Robertson, MD.
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espite having a degree in art history from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, the love of chemistry ultimately drew Ashley Robertson, MD, to medical school. Dr. Robertson was no stranger to medicine, though. Her father is a pediatrician in Savannah, Georgia. “After completing my residency, I looked for a place that had a smalltown feel but was big enough to have an airport so I could fly home easily. I also didn’t want to be the only doctor in town. Bangor had what I was looking for. I enjoy being involved in the community. I feel I can really make a difference,” Dr. Robertson says. Dr. Robertson began her career at EMMC in 2002 as a hospitalist with EMMC Inpatient Care. “Being a hospitalist was a great job out of residency,” she explains. “Caring for hospitalized patients gave me the opportunity to learn so much. Many of my patients had very complicated medical issues, so I frequently worked with the vascular surgeons.” In 2007, Robert Cambria, MD, FACS, invited Dr. Robertson to join Vascular Care of Maine. Because she
wanted to grow professionally and didn’t want to leave EMMC, it was a great solution. Dr. Robertson completed a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and returned to EMMC to become Vascular Care of Maine’s first vascular internist. She now lives in Veazie with her husband, Adam, and her golden doodle dog, Teddy. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading science fiction, and learning to knit.
Vein problems run the gamut At Vascular Care of Maine, Dr. Robertson sees patients with a variety of vein issues. Some patients have cosmetic concerns, while others suffer from sore and tired legs because their occupations—such as nursing, hairdressing, and construction—require them to stand for long periods. She also works with patients who have progressive vein diseases with ulcers needing immediate attention. “It’s amazing the variety of people I see from all walks of life,” Dr. Robertson says. “I see pregnant women who’ve developed varicose veins during their pregnancies.
I see men who’ve ignored their veins all their life and now have huge ulcers around their ankles. I see patients with mild disease and symptoms that really bother them, and patients with ropy, thick, bulging veins who have no symptoms at all.” Dr. Robertson is one of several expert physicians and surgeons at Vascular Care of Maine. In recent years, the center has grown to serve the needs of its clients who have circulatory problems affecting all of the body’s arteries and veins.
Be in the know! To learn more about diseases that can affect blood flow in your body, contact your primary care physician or visit www.emmc.org.
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Bringing the latest innovations and best practice standards in quality and safety
Know your risk for stroke
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ccording to the American Heart Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. This spring, EMMC has been awarded a “Gold Seal of Approval” by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center. That means we met national standards for high-quality, best-practice guidelines that significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients. Stephanie R. Lash, MD, medical director at EMMC’s Stroke Center and a member of EMMC’s Stroke Team, says education and prevention are key. Women, especially, need to know the risk factors and warning signs, because they account for more than 60 percent of deaths from stroke. The most important way to prevent a stroke is to know the risk factors. You can change or treat some risk factors, but others you can’t. By having regular medical checkups and knowing your stroke risk, you can focus on the factors you can change and lower your risk.
What risk factors can I change or treat? • high blood pressure • tobacco use • diabetes mellitus • carotid or other artery disease • a previous transient ischemic attack (TIA) • atrial fibrillation or other heart disease
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Give Me 5!
MMC is promoting the Give Me 5! program from the Stroke Collaborative, a partnership of the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the American Heart Association. To check if someone is having a stroke, ask the person to give you five: • Walk: Is his or her balance off? • Talk: Is his or her speech slurred or face droopy? • Reach: Is one side of his or her body weak or numb? • See: Is his or her vision all or partially lost? • Feel: Is his or her headache severe? If you or someone you know shows signs of a stroke or ministroke (TIA), call 911 and get to the hospital immediately. Early treatment may limit damage and reduce disability.
• certain blood disorders • high blood cholesterol • physical inactivity and obesity • excessive alcohol intake • illegal drug use
What are the risk factors I can’t control? • increasing age • gender (More men suffer stroke, but more women die from stroke.) • heredity and race (AfricanAmericans, Hispanics, and people with close family members who have had a stroke have a higher risk of stroke.) • prior stroke
A word of caution . . . TIAs, which are commonly known as ministrokes, produce stroke-like
symptoms with no lasting effects. If you think you may be having a TIA, you should seek emergency medical treatment immediately. If you’ve had a TIA in the past, be sure to ask your primary care physician to refer you to one of EMMC’s doctors who specialize in stroke, since you’re more likely to have a stroke in the future.
Are you stroke savvy? For more information about stroke, log on to www.emmc.org or call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE (1-888478-7653) or visit them at www.
strokeassociation.org.
Providing effective and affordable healthcare
The challenge of childhood obesity Pediatricians, parents, teachers, and kids all play an active role.
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2005 report released by The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that our children may be the first generation of Americans to live shorter lives than their parents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by 2010 as many as 50 percent of American children ages 6 to 19 will be overweight. According to the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of Maine high school students are overweight, and one-third of Maine kids entering kindergarten are already at an unhealthy weight. “Childhood obesity is a multifaceted challenge,” says Erin Whitehouse, MEd, coordinator of the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems Youth Healthy Lifestyle Project. “Many parents are unable to identify their child as being overweight. Fruit and vegetables are expensive, while highly processed foods are quick and relatively inexpensive.” “The fear,” says pediatrician Valerie O’Hara, DO, of EMMC’s Husson Pediatrics, “is that if something isn’t done to curb this epidemic, we’ll see more and more people diagnosed at earlier ages with associated diseases and complications like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.”
Take action against childhood obesity Parents are encouraged to start with a routine like the 5-2-1-0 program, which is promoted by the American Academy of Pediatrics: • Five is the minimum number of servings of fruits and vegetables kids should eat each day. • Two means no more than two hours of recreational screen time each day—television, video games, or computer. • One is to promote at least one hour of physical activity each day. • Zero is the recommended number of sugar-sweetened drinks kids should have each day. Dr. O’Hara says she hopes parents can make 5-2-1-0 a healthy habit in their children’s lives and teach them at an early age about the importance of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and staying active. This year, EMMC, as a member of EMHS, is focusing attention on preventing childhood obesity. “Our goal is to increase the number of Maine youth at a healthy weight,” Whitehouse says. “With continued collaboration and support, we will make a difference.”
One-third of Maine kids entering kindergarten are already at an unhealthy weight.
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Supporting healthcare research and education
What’s new?
A new home for CancerCare of Maine
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n 2005, Jeni Lloyd, a 32-year-old wife and mother, received a call that changed her life. Jeni is one of more than 7,000 patients who seek treatment each year at EMMC’s CancerCare of Maine, northern and eastern Maine’s premier cancer center. Since 1998, oncology procedures performed at CancerCare have risen by 106 percent.
“In whatever role they were given, it wasn’t just a job—it became their mission to touch the lives of the people they were in contact with,” says Jeni, who’s in remission after battling her cancer. While patients rave about their care, they also freely acknowledge that CancerCare of Maine’s staff and patients are in desperate need of a new home. That new home is scheduled to open in late fall 2009 at the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) Professional Center in Brewer. The building ultimately will also house the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, the EMHS research collaborative in partnership
Jeni Lloyd is in remission after treatment in 2005.
with The Jackson Laboratory, and the University of Maine. This will provide new opportunities for scientists to work side by side with physicians and patients to bring the latest research to the bedside. EMMC’s Champion the Cure campaign has raised $8.8 million toward a $9.5 million goal. If you’d like to volunteer or become a champion in the community phase of the campaign, contact Dana at EMMC Healthcare Charities at (207) 973-5185 or visit www.championthecure.org.
Other projects in the pipeline More exciting projects are underway at EMMC to improve access to our services. Parking garage expansion u Construction crews are finished setting precast concrete at our State Street campus for an expansion of our parking garage. It’s expected to be completed in June and will offer more parking for patients and families as well as on-site parking for all employees. u While construction is in progress, we encourage all patients and visitors to our State Street campus to use valet parking.
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u Visit www.emmc.org/garagecam. aspx to view a live webcam of the parking garage project.
Outpatient imaging u The renovations for a new Outpatient Imaging Center at the EMMC Healthcare Mall on Union Street in Bangor began in November 2008. u We anticipate opening the center in fall 2009.
Inpatient care expansion u In October, the state of Maine approved, with conditions, EMMC’s plans for new inpatient care space—space that’s critically needed to meet the healthcare needs of our community now and in the future. u We’re currently working through the conditions identified by the state and assessing how our plan may be modified.
Employees caring for patients, families, communities, and one another
Employee spotlight
Making a Splash at EMMC
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ince 1892, EMMC has been a landmark along the banks of the Penobscot River. With the river as part of our heritage, it seems only fitting that water has seeped into our culture in the form of Ripple and Splash awards. These awards are our way of recognizing employees who have exceeded expectations while delivering our mission of caring for patients, families, communities, and each other. Like those on the water, Ripple awards recognize the small acts of kindness and gestures of caring that grow and spread well beyond their initial point of impact. A Splash award attracts significant attention and is how we pay tribute to employees who have done something so impressive that they deserve our highest recognition. Here are the stories of a couple of recent Splash recipients whose actions represent the caring professionals at EMMC.
A heart of gold
Denise Sullivan, CMA, Education and Training Center instructor, underwent a quadruple bypass more than a year ago and knows that bypass surgery can be frightening and that recuperation can take considerable time. With the experience fresh in her mind, Denise Sullivan, CMA Denise saw an opportunity to add a personal touch to help our patients feel more at home during recovery. After surgery, bypass patients use a pillow when they cough, sneeze, or Do you have what laugh. The pillow assists with healing it takes? and relieves stress on the breastbone. An avid quilter, Denise decided to make For the latest on available positions at EMMC, visit careers.emmc.org. heart-shaped pillows for patients and organized area quilting guilds to help.
Every few months, she collects the newly made pillows and makes a big delivery at the Heart Center, bringing smiles to the faces of patients. Denise was recently selected to attend the 2008 Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic. She participated in a four-day training on the science and medical aspects of cardiovascular disease, public speaking, and community outreach strategies. In recognition of putting the patient first, Denise is honored for her dedication and ongoing support to our Heart Center patients.
Pennies from heaven Janice Dionne, cafeteria attendant, is the smiling face that
greets people at the Riverview CafÊ in Webber West. Two years ago, Janice put a cup next to the cash register for people to take or leave a penny. She found that customers were leaving a lot more change than they were taking. She decided Janice Dionne to donate the change to a charitable cause or department within EMMC. Many departments have benefited from these donations, including CancerCare of Maine, Dialysis on Union Street, Children’s Miracle Network, and Pediatric Oncology. And for the last two years at Christmastime, Janice has shopped for mittens, hats, and scarves for the mitten tree and has purchased brown-bag dinners for needy families. Janice has raised more than $1,000 in the last two years. With her creative idea, she has helped make the lives of many of our patients a little bit better.
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Our commitment to quality
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n the midst of spring fun, we hope that accidents won’t happen. But if they do, EMMC is here for you. We want you to know how your local hospital compares nationally on quality of care and efforts to keep you safe during your stay. To better serve you and your loved ones, we have two resources available to you at www.emmc.org: EMMC’s quality and patient safety pages. By clicking on “Quality Matters at EMMC” on the left side of the EMMC home page, you can find out how EMMC compares in clinical quality, patient satisfaction, and human resource standards. If you or a loved one is planning to visit EMMC, learn how you and EMMC can protect your safety during your hospital stay at www.emmc.org/patientsafety.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about The Eagle, please contact: Community Relations EMMC PO Box 404 Bangor, ME 04402-0404 Phone: (207) 973-7740 E-mail: eagle@emh.org