Shows
BACON from the MaineHealth ACOFinal Episode: exploring value and primary care with Dr. Asaf Bitton In this special farewell episode of BACON, Heather and Mike welcome Dr. Asaf Bitton, keynote speaker for the upcoming MaineHealth ACO Value-Based Care Symposium on May 14. As Executive Director of Ariadne Labs and a leader in primary care innovation, Dr. Bitton shares insights from healthcare systems worldwide and discusses the evolving roles of primary care and specialists in risk-based models. Be on the lookout for our new podcast, Curbside Consult, in May!2025-03-0139 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOStatins Help Patients with DiabetesEndocrinologist Stephen Babirak, MD, joins Mike and Heather to discuss how statins can lower cardiovascular disease risk in patients with diabetes, vastly improving their outcomes and extending their lives.2025-01-0726 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOReducing Readmissions One Patient at a TimeLearn how care managers from the MaineHealth ACO and St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston are collaborating to increase communication between the hospital and primary care practices to reduce 30-day readmission rates.2024-12-0917 min
WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Audio ArchivesHealthy Options 9/4/24: The Importance of Local HospitalsHost/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Production Assistant: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – Why is a local hospital so important for the community in which it is located? How can hospital consolidation affect local hospitals? – How is the success of a local hospital evaluated? How did Waldo County General Hospital rate, before it became a part of MaineHealth? – Waldo County General Hospital was a successful, profitable, independent hospital, with innovative and award-winning programs. How has that changed since becoming part of MaineHealth? – How can a local hospital be innovative in developi...2024-09-0459 minHealthy Options | WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs ArchivesHealthy Options 9/4/24: The Importance of Local HospitalsHost/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Production Assistant: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – Why is a local hospital so important for the community in which it is located? How can hospital consolidation affect local hospitals? – How is the success of a local hospital evaluated? How did Waldo County General Hospital rate, before it became a part of MaineHealth? – Waldo County General Hospital was a successful, profitable, independent hospital, with innovative and award-winning programs. How has that changed since becoming part of MaineHealth? – How can a local hospital be innovative in developi...2024-09-0459 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOReducing MisdiagnosesMaineHealth Associate Chief Quality Officer Mark Parker, MD, joins Heather and Mike to discuss a promising care variation reduction project that uses the delivery of timely lab results as a lever to improve diagnosis accuracy.2024-09-0121 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOHelping Our Patients Age in PlaceEvidence suggests that older adults age more successfully when they’re able to stay in their homes or in their home communities. In this episode of BACON, we talk to gerontologist Dr. Heidi Wierman and healthy aging advocate Jess Maurer to learn how primary care providers can help their patients age in place safely and comfortably. They discuss strategies for working with individual patients and look at ways to engage with, and support, community-based efforts to support healthy aging. 2024-07-0125 min
Raising MeAnxiety Epidemic: RevisitedOver the summer months, we'll be taking a look back at previous episodes, while sprinkling in new episodes every so often. We'll be back to a new episode every week in September. This week we take a look back at one of our most downloaded episodes - Anxiety Epidemic.Anxiety among kids is on the rise since the pandemic, which can heartbreaking - especially when parents don’t know how to best help their children. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an impactful conversation with Rebecca Hoffman, Director of MaineHealth’s Center for Trauma, Resi...2024-06-2536 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACORemarkable Benefits of HPV VaccinationThe HPV vaccine has been proven effective in preventing cancer but our vaccination rates could be higher. MaineHealth’s Dr. Melissa Keeport and Caroline Zimmerman discuss new guidelines and the role primary care can play in improving rates.2024-06-0115 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOA Symposium Sneak PeekOn May 22, the MaineHealth ACO will host the Working Together to Advance Value-Based Care symposium in Freeport, with health policy superstar Dr. Don Berwick headlining as keynote speaker. In this BACON episode, we take a deep dive into one of the symposium’s afternoon workshops. Focused on payment bundles for specialty care, the workshop will be led by our two podcast guests, Dr. James Powers and Sue Seekins.2024-05-0328 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOA Recipe for Reducing Length of StayIn less than a year, Southern Maine Health Care reduced length of stay by thirteen percent and saved the health system nearly four million dollars. MaineHealth Southern Region Associate Chief Medical Officer Michael Albaum, MD, led the effort and shares his “recipe” for success.2024-04-0126 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOOur New CMO Kendra Emery, DO Dr. Kendra Emery, the ACO’s Chief Medical Officer, providers her insights and plans for the organization and shares how her vision aligns with ACO priorities.2024-03-0117 min
Raising MeDetecting Depression: Identifying the Warning Signs in ChildrenDepression in children is a topic that requires careful attention and understanding. While it can sometimes be challenging to differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression, being able to recognize the signs is crucial for providing support and intervention. In this episode of Raising Me, Adrienne speaks with Rebecca Hoffmann, the Director of the Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation at MaineHealth (you may remember the name from the episode "Anxiety Epidemic.") They'll explore how to identify signs of depression in children, distinguish between situational depression and more serious cases, and get expert guidance on what to do if...2024-02-2022 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOPalliative Care Insights from Becca HutchinsonMaineHealth Medical Group Senior Director for Palliative Care Becca Hutchinson, MD, provides her unique and inspiring perspective on the role of palliative care in medicine today. Dr. Hutchinson recently helped to establish a stand-alone palliative care outpatient practice in Scarborough and is a leading advocate for increasing access to palliative care in northern New England.2024-02-0123 min
Health Leader ForgeKelly Barton, President of Maine Behavioral HealthcareToday’s guest is Kelly Barton, President of Maine Behavioral Healthcare, part of the MaineHealth System. Maine Behavioral Healthcare offers a full spectrum of behavioral health care, from community-based counseling and rehabilitation to a dedicated behavioral health hospital. In this podcast we talk about Kelly’s career journey starting as a unit coordinator in the emergency department through leadership roles in a variety of organizations. We discuss some of the challenges facing behavioral health providers currently, and we close on a discussion of leadership.Links discussed on this podcast:* Maine Behavioral Health...2024-01-151h 05
The Digital Patient117: MaineHealth's CIO, Dr. Daniel Nigrin: From DJ to Physician CIO, Thinking About Scale Before You Pilot, and Exploring AI With Eyes Wide OpenOn this episode of The Digital Patient, Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder & CEO of SeamlessMD, and marketing colleague, Alan Sardana, chat with Dr. Daniel Nigrin, Chief Information Officer at MaineHealth, about his journey "From DJ to Physician CIO, Thinking About Scale Before You Pilot, Exploring AI With Eyes Wide Open, and more..."2024-01-1144 min
Raising MeAnxiety EpidemicAnxiety among kids is on the rise since the pandemic, which can heartbreaking - especially when parents don’t know how to best help their children. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an impactful conversation with Rebecca Hoffman, Director of MaineHealth’s Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation. Rebecca shares early signs to watch out for, sheds light on why anxiety rates are skyrocketing, and explains why this topic matters for all of us, even those who don’t have kids dealing with anxiety. Plus, a look back at how we were raised when anxiety may not have been talked...2024-01-0935 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONatisa Dill on Patient Safety & Care VariationUnwarranted care variation is often discussed in terms of its impact on cost. But there’s another dimension to care variation that is perhaps more important: its impact on patient safety. In this episode, MaineHealth Medical Group’s VP for Quality and Safety, Natisa Dill, discusses variation’s profound impact on safety and steps to mitigate it.2024-01-0214 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOMemorial Hospital Improves Primary Care AccessOne of our most popular episodes of the last year featured an interview with Memorial’s Matt Dunn, DO, discussing his primary care team’s success in increasing patient access. We replay that interview this month, as access remains both a challenge and a priority.2023-12-0131 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOMHACO's Care Variation Reduction StrategiesThe reduction of unwarranted care variation has the potential to improve quality while reducing cost of care, which aligns perfectly with the principles of value-based care championed by the ACO. Join us as we explore MHACO’s dedicated focus on end-of-life care and transitions of care in our conversation with Carl DeMars, MD, chair of the MHACO board and VP for physician and APP services for MaineHealth’s Coastal Region.2023-11-0313 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOThe Latest MIPS & MSSP ResultsThe ACO’s Emily Levi reports MIPS and MSSP results for our participants and the financial implications.2023-10-0116 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOIntroducing Our New Annual ReportMHACO’s President Jen Moore introduces ours recently released 2022 Annual Report, highightig how ACO participants improved quality, reduced over-utilization, and generated substantial value-based care revenue through collaborative efforts among providers, care teams, administrators, and payer partners.2023-09-0116 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOExploring Physical LiteracyPediatric sports medicine physicians Michele LaBotz, MD, and Sarah Hoffman, DO, join us to introduce the concept of physical literacy and share resources that primary care providers can use to assess and improve the physical literacy of their pediatric patients.2023-08-0114 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOUncovering the Mysteries of HCCsIn the world of value-based care, there’s one set of diagnosis codes that carry much greater weight than all the rest: HCCs. What are HCCs and why are they so important? Scott Williams, MD, joins Heather and Mike with the answers.2023-07-0119 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOHealth Equity and Cultural CompetenceRyan Polly, MaineHealth’s VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, joins Heather to explore aspects of health equity and the results of a cross-cultural competency assessment completed by hundreds of MaineHealth providers.2023-06-0115 min
Becker’s Healthcare - Clinical Leadership PodcastDaniel Nigrin, MD, Chief Information Officer at MaineHealthThis episode features Daniel Nigrin, MD, Chief Information Officer at MaineHealth. Here, he discusses his clinical background and how that helps in his current role, opportunities and headwinds he's keeping his eye on, where he sees the best opportunities for growth in the future, and more.Want to network with peers and hear more conversations like this? Apply to be one of our complimentary guest reviewers at our upcoming HIT + Digital Health + RCM Meeting Oct, 3-6 2023 here.2023-05-1516 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOReducing Unwarranted Care VariationReducing care variation is a strategic goal for both the MaineHealth ACO and the MaineHealth system during FY24 and beyond. The ACO’s chief operating officer, Shannon Banks, joins us to introduce initiatives that the ACO board has approved for addressing unwarranted variation in end-of-life care and transitions of care.2023-05-0112 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOSeeking Gender Equity in Healthcare LeadershipAlthough the healthcare workforce is overwhelmingly female, women are underrepresented in leadership roles. This month, Mike and Heather discuss this phenomenon with Gayle Capozzalo of the Equity Collaborative. A former executive at Yale New Haven Health, Gayle provides insights into the cause of the disparity and offers a leadership pathway for women.2023-04-0626 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 17: Becoming a Learning Health SystemOne of MaineHealth’s five 2023-27 Strategic Priorities is Processes, with a goal of advancing a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and performance improvement, promoting a discipline of accountability.
A key strategy to advance this goal is "Learning Health System". In this episode, COO Kelly Elkins speaks with Doug Sawyer, MD, Interim Chief Medical Officer and Chief Academics Officer for MaineHealth, to define what it means to be a learning health system.
They discuss this year’s Scorecard Goals to advance inter-professional team-based care (i.e., iPACE principles) and how this contributes to a learning health...2023-03-1713 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOYes, We Can Improve Primary Care AccessMaineHealth Regional CMO for the Western Region Matt Dunn, DO, shares how Memorial Hospital dramatically increased access to primary care over the last several years, improving both patient and provider satisfaction in the process.2023-03-0131 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 15: What’s in a Brand?When you are asked where do you work or who do you work for, what immediately comes to mind? For many care team members, their local organization or entity is often the immediate answer. As our health system has unified, MaineHealth has maintained our legacy brands, which can sometimes create confusion and/or a disconnect from our MaineHealth brand as an organization. In this episode Kelly Elkins discusses the upcoming rebranding initiative with MaineHealth Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Terri Cannan to learn about the importance of this work and the importance of our brand identity as one MaineHealth.2023-02-1614 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 14: Meet the Regional PresidentsIn the “Team of Teams” podcast (Episode 6) last September, MHMG President Aileen Mickey and COO Kelly Elkins discussed the implementation of a regional approach to an organizational structure for MaineHealth. MaineHealth recently announced the individuals chosen to serve as Presidents for the Coastal, Mountain and Southern regions, and in this episode, we hear from them: Jeff Sanders (Southern), Andy Patstone (Coastal) and Trampas Hutches (Mountain) discuss the exciting opportunities ahead as we work together in our new operating model.
2023-01-1719 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOConfronting Concerns About Medicare AdvantageRecent news coverage has revealed abuses of the Medicare Advantage program and caused some providers to express concerns about participating in it. In this extended episode, LincolnHealth’s Tim Goltz, MD, joins us to discuss the ethics of the ACO’s and MaineHealth’s approach to the program and the sometimes difficult path toward realizing the promise of value-based care. 2023-01-1734 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 12: Our Roadmap to ValueHospitals and health systems continue to test and adopt alternative payment and delivery models. There are many ways in which that can be done. At MaineHealth, we utilize our Accountable Care Organization (MHACO) to facilitate this work.
In this episode, we learn about the work MaineHealth is doing to develop our roadmap to value. Kelly is joined in the conversation with Jen Moore, President of MHACO and Vice President of Payor Relations and Payment Innovation, and Dr. Rob Chamberlin, Chief Medical Officer for MHACO.
2022-12-2014 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 11: You, Too, Can Be A ResearcherWhen some of us think about research, we may envision scientists in labs researching and solving complex clinical or scientific problems. But in reality, research is a broad and diverse function that virtually anyone can participate in.
In this episode, Kelly speaks with Liz Jacobs, MD, Vice President for Research at the MaineHealth Institute for Research, to learn more about research activities at MaineHealth and how “You, Too, Can Be a Researcher.”
2022-12-1416 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOExciting Changes to the Quality Heat MapThe ACO’s Laura Larssen joins Heather and Mike to discuss measures that have just been added to the MHACO Quality Heat Map, including a first-ever health disparity measure.2022-12-0121 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 9: Keeping Score, Part TwoThis episode builds on the info shared in the first Keeping Score podcast, when Chief Planning Officer Mark Harris discussed the development and purpose of a balanced scorecard for MaineHealth.
Since that time, the MaineHealth Board has approved our strategic plan and balanced scorecard, and it is now time to put our plans and scorecard management system into action. In this episode, Kelly and Mark walk through the strategic priorities and FY23 goals.
2022-11-1624 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOProvider Wellness & Great ACO PerformanceMaineHealth ACO President Jennifer Moore shares the latest quality and financial results from the ACO’s participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Plus, the MaineHealth Medical Group’s new chief wellness officer, Christine Hein, MD, on current and future efforts to address provider wellness and burnout.2022-11-0120 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 8: Where Have All the Workers Gone?You cannot turn on the TV, read an article or even run your errands without hearing about the workforce shortages impacting our country and our communities. And healthcare has been one of the hardest hit industries. In this episode, Kelly speaks with MaineHealth Director of Workforce Development Jen O’Leary to learn about the work under way at MaineHealth to rebuild our workforce pipeline.
2022-10-2615 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOFunding Innovation with Shared SavingsMHACO Chief Medical Officer Rob Chamberlin, MD, announces the innovation projects that the ACO is funding this year through a special allocation of shared savings. Also, we meet Heather Ward, MD, BACON’s new co-host!2022-10-0116 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 6: Building a Team of TeamsIn this episode, Kelly is joined by Aileen Mickey, MD, President of the MaineHealth Medical Group. Together they discuss the further evolution of our operating model and the new organizational structure supporting that work to build out a MaineHealth “team of teams.” They share how regionalization builds upon our integration work to date, breaks down barriers, and optimizes the talents of our teams.
2022-09-1916 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 5: Creating a Culture of SafetyIn this episode, Kelly is joined by Dr. Omar Hasan, Chief Quality Officer for MaineHealth, and Dr. Mark Parker, MaineHealth Patient Safety Officer and VP Quality & Safety for MMC. Together they discuss the latest safety culture survey results and, more importantly, how we build, nurture, and measure a culture of safety within our organization.
2022-09-1517 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOCommunity Health Workers & a Fond FarewellMarin Johnson, Dr. Katie Sharp and Dr. Renee Wolf join us to discuss the role community health workers are playing in preventive medicine. Also, co-host Julie Grosvenor, MD, reflects on the role of the ACO and the podcast as she prepares to leave the show.2022-09-0116 min
Working Together with COO Kelly ElkinsEpisode 4: Keeping ScoreIn health care we love our dashboards and scorecards. They are invaluable tools to gauge how we are performing in a variety of key indicators – and in health care there are thousands that can be tracked and measured. How does an integrated health system like MaineHealth pick the most important indicators to measure the success of our strategic initiatives and, more importantly, how are those indicators shared with all care team members? How are we “keeping score” of our performance? In this episode, you’ll hear Mark Harris, Chief Planning Officer, discuss the work underway to develop a balanced scorecard...2022-09-0115 min
The FLATLINING PodcastEp. 16 - BCBS Mississippi Sues for Defamation (and other payor headlines)This week on the FLATLINING Podcast, Matthew and Ron discuss recent payor headlines. First, we all know the insurance companies make a lot of money and now that their 2022 Quarter 2 earnings reports are out, we take a look at how it affects providers and patients and what is says about the economy. In this episode we discuss Elevance (formerly Anthem) ($ELV ), UnitedHealthcare ($UNH ), Cigna ($CI ), Centene ($CNC ), and Kaiser Permenante. We excluded Aetna because it is difficult to extrapolate their earnings because it falls under the retail giant CVS Health ($CVS ).Then, Matthew and Ron...2022-08-1056 min
Healthcare DigestEp. 16 - BCBS Mississippi Sues for Defamation (and other payor headlines)This week on the FLATLINING Podcast, Matthew and Ron discuss recent payor headlines. First, we all know the insurance companies make a lot of money and now that their 2022 Quarter 2 earnings reports are out, we take a look at how it affects providers and patients and what is says about the economy. In this episode we discuss Elevance (formerly Anthem) ($ELV ), UnitedHealthcare ($UNH ), Cigna ($CI ), Centene ($CNC ), and Kaiser Permenante. We excluded Aetna because it is difficult to extrapolate their earnings because it falls under the retail giant CVS Health ($CVS ). Then, Matthew and Ron briefly discuss why MaineHealth would...2022-08-1056 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONew AWV Tools & Childhood Obesity PreventionRob Chamberlin, MD, the CMO of the MaineHealth ACO, introduces new tools available to MaineHealth providers and practices to help plan and complete Medicare annual wellness visits. Plus, Carrie Gordon, MD, updates us on the Let’s Go childhood obesity prevention program.2022-08-0116 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOMA Star Ratings & Precise DocumentationAs the ACO prepares to enter into two-sided risk contracts with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, we bring you two relevant interviews from previous episodes. The first features the ACO’s Lauren Purcell on the intricacies of MA plan star ratings; the second features Brett Loffredo, MD on improving the precision of clinical documentation.2022-07-0119 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOBBCH Gender Clinic & Annual Synchronized PrescribingMMP's Caitlin Costigan on using annual synchronized prescribing to improve med adherence; Plus, tips on caring for transgender youth and LGBTQ+ patients.2022-06-0821 min
Autism ConfidentialEpisode 8 - Matthew Siegel, MD on Treatment Programs for Severe Autism BehaviorsMatthew Siegel, MD, Director of the Developmental Disorders Program, Maine Behavioral Health, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics of Tufts University and Faculty Scientist, MMC Research Institute
His program provides a continuum of care for people with severe autism, including outpatient services providing a range of services, and a 12-bed inpatient unit that serves youth age 20 and under. Patients usually have a coexisting psychiatric disorders and exhibit unsafe behaviors. The inpatient stay is usually about 30-40 days. They also have a partial inpatient program for part of the day in addition to an in-home program for very...2022-05-1632 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOMHACO Annual Report & Access to CareMaineHealth ACO President Jen Moore provides highlights from the organization’s recently released annual report, showing strong performance in 2021. Plus, Carol Zechman, Kimberly Beaudoin and Kate Herrick join Julie and Mike to celebrate 20 years of MaineHealth Access to Care’s service to Maine’s most vulnerable populations.2022-05-0216 min
Like a Boss from the Portland Press HeraldLike a Boss with Andrew Mueller, CEO of MaineHealthLike a Boss conversation between Lisa DeSisto, Publisher of the Portland Press Herald and CEO of Masthead Maine and Andrew Mueller, CEO of MaineHealth on Friday, April 29, 20222022-05-0248 min
Portland Press Herald AudioLike a Boss with Andrew Mueller, CEO of MaineHealthLike a Boss conversation between Lisa DeSisto, Publisher of the Portland Press Herald and CEO of Masthead Maine and Andrew Mueller, CEO of MaineHealth on Friday, April 29, 20222022-05-0248 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOCoding Tips & Medical EducationPrimary care provider Samuel Ferguson, DO, discusses the importance of accurate HCC coding and shares some tips for making improvements. Robert Bing You, MD, and Leah Mallory, MD, introduce Maine Medical Center’s Department of Medical Education, which offers innovative training to providers inside and outside the MaineHealth system.2022-04-0121 min
Health Professional Radio - Podcastagilon health Partners with MaineHealthagilon health Partners with MaineHealth by Vertical Internet Media2022-03-2910 min
Health Professional Radio - Podcastagilon health Partners with MaineHealthagilon health Partners with MaineHealth by Vertical Internet Media2022-03-2910 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOToward a New Primary Care Payment ModelMaineHealth ACO Chief Medical Officer Rob Chamberlin, MD, discusses the experiences of Maine practices taking part in the inaugural year of Medicare's Primary Care First value-based reimbursement model.2022-03-0116 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOACO Performance & Operations UpdateMaineHealth ACO Chief Operating Officer Shannon Banks shares new performance results and introduces a sophisticated new data analysis report. Also, Ansar Hassan, MD, on MMC's Mitral Center of Excellence. 2022-02-0324 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOPhysicians Cope with COVIDPhysicians from across Maine report how they’re dealing with the ongoing and intensifying pandemic, both professionally and personally. Listen for diverse insights from Franklin’s Ross Isacke, DO; MaineHealth Medical Group’s Donald Medd, MD; self-employed provider Kathryn Galbraith, MD; and Waldo’s Heather Ward, MD.2022-01-0526 min
HR TrendsBehavioral HealthTo ring in the new year, CEOs from the American Psychological Association and MaineHealth join host Clare Morin to discuss why investing in behavioral health in 2022 is not just good for your employees but also good for your business. Key TakeawaysThe psychological fallout of the pandemic has only just begun. The pandemic unleashed a tsunami of stress that will continue to be felt even once COVID-19 is gone. (3:50)This is a long-term project for employers. Military studies have shown that people who experience traumatic events often d...2022-01-0321 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOMH Medical Group President Aileen MickeyOver the past six months, Aileen Mickey, MD, MHA, has been leading the development of the MaineHealth Medical Group, Northern New England’s largest multi-specialty medical group. Aileen joins us to discuss her vision for the group and priorities for the year to come.2021-12-0123 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONext Day Joint Replacement plus ACA Open EnrollmentMMP orthopedic surgeons George Babikian, MD, and Adam Rana, MD, discuss the remarkable success they’ve had whittling down joint replacement recovery times. Plus, how to help patients enroll in the ACA marketplace health insurance plans.2021-11-0117 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOClinical Documentation & Pediatric Behavioral HealthAccurate and precise clinical documentation matters now more than ever. Brett Loffredo, MD, tells us why. Plus, Amy Mayhew, MD and Melissa Keeport, MD on a training and consultation project to help PCPs better address pediatric behavioral health.2021-10-0122 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOSharing in SuccessParticipants in the ACO will receive millions of dollars in shared savings this year. That’s thanks to excellent performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The ACO’s chief operating officer, Shannon Banks, provides the details. Also, Ross Feller, MD, is generating savings of his own by moving hand surgery out of the operating room. We learn how.2021-09-0118 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOWhat's the Point of an ACO, Anyway?Our summer vacation episode features two popular stories from the past. First, we offer a reminder of what accountable care organizations do and why they do it. Second, we explore the advantages of telescribes with PenBay’s Brad Samojla, DPM.2021-08-0112 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONew MaineHealth CEO Andy MuellerNew MaineHealth CEO Andy Mueller, MD, shares his first impressions of the organization and his priorities going forward. Plus, Peggy Pennoyer, MD, and Don Endrizzi, MD, reflect on their experiences as volunteer COVID vaccinators.2021-07-0118 min
The Project Login PodcastMaineHealthThis week's guest on the podcast is David Reed. David works at MaineHealth as a Regional Supervisor in the IT Field Services Department. Listen to learn about David's career pathway and the skills and experiences that led him to his current role. We also discover what the company culture is like at MaineHealth and learn what David's favorite place in Maine is.Network and connect with David on LinkedIn here.Explore opportunities at MaineHealth by visiting their careers page.
Connect with us:💼 Follow the podcast for more inspiring career storie...2021-06-1415 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONat'l Healthcare Policy & Local Primary Care Access ImprovementMaineHealth ACO President Jen Moore talks to federal policy expert Blair Childs about the Biden Administration’s healthcare policy priorities, including telehealth and value-based care. Also, Memorial Hospital CMO Matt Dunn, MD, reports on a successful effort to increase primary care access in the North Conway area.2021-06-0115 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOA Peek Inside the ACO's New Annual ReportMaineHealth ACO Chief Medical Officer Rob Chamberlin, MD, joins us to reveal some of the fresh data readers will find in the ACO’s newly released annual report. Also, we talk to Andy Russ, MD, LincolnHealth’s VP for Medical Affairs, about his success keeping his regional medical community informed and connected during the pandemic.2021-05-0117 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOWhy Star Ratings MatterOn the surface, Medicare Advantage Star Ratings simply allow consumers to compare the quality of Medicare Advantage insurance plans. But deeper down, Star Ratings also drive a complex financial system that includes incentives for providers. The ACO’s Lauren Purcell explains. Also, Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s Ted Logan, MD, on adapting substance use treatment to the new pandemic-driven reality.2021-04-0118 minHR TrendsEmployers' critical role with COVID-19 vaccinationsThe ongoing pandemic has put a spotlight on people’s physical and mental health – and on the critical role employers have in safeguarding their employees’ overall well-being. As the vaccine efforts continue across the U.S., we discuss the role employers should play in terms of the vaccination roll out. Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Chief Health Improvement Officer at MaineHealth, and Rob Hecker from Unum discuss how employers – of all sizes – can help with vaccination efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a race against time. Vaccinations are the single most important thing we can do for the he...2021-03-2216 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOThe ACO's Latest Performance ResultsMaineHealth ACO President Jennifer Moore reports on final cost, quality and utilization results from value-based contracts that settled in 2020. Also, LincolnHealth’s Timothy Goltz, MD, on the power of poetry to improve meetings.2021-03-0115 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACODora Mills Answers COVID Vaccine QuestionsDora Anne Mills, MD, MaineHealth’s chief health improvement officer and former director of the Maine CDC, answers providers’ questions about vaccine availability and distribution in Maine (interview recorded on 1/25/21). Also, we explore a successful effort to establish “age-friendly care” at Maine Medical Center.2021-01-2932 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONew Clinical Documentation GuidesThe ACO has released Basics and Beyond, a series of clinical documentation guides that provide condition-specific advice on precision coding. In this episode, the ACO’s Eiren Menhennitt introduces the guides. Also, Dr. Scot Remick discusses new opportunities for Maine patients to participate in clinical trials.2021-01-0113 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOInnovating Primary Care PaymentNext month, more than two dozen primary care practices participating in the ACO will join Primary Care First, a new Medicare program that uses a population-based payment model. Amol Navathe, MD, PhD, a health policy researcher and expert in the model, joins us to discuss. Also, MMC’s Gary Hochheiser, MD, introduces the MATRIx program, an effort to streamline the evaluation and care of patients with lung imaging findings. 2020-12-0123 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOOur Medicare Shared Savings Program ResultsMaineHealth ACO Chief Medical Officer Rob Chamberlin, MD, joins Julie and Mike to explore financial and quality results just in from the 2019 performance year of the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Plus, Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s Mary Jean Mork discusses an innovative partnership between psychiatry and primary care. 2020-11-0114 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOA Medicare Reimbursement IncreaseWith MaineHealth ACO President Jen Moore, Julie and Mike discuss the link between ACO participants’ performance in the Medicare Incentive-based Payment System (MIPS) and a bump in Medicare reimbursement. Also, Julie talks with Rob Doiron, MD, a Sanford native who has returned to his hometown to begin his general surgery career.2020-10-0116 min
Podcast – The Race to Value Podcast™Ep 8 – Creating a Culture of Improvement and Innovation, with Jen Moore
MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization (MHACO) serves a uniquely heterogeneous population that is spread across coastal, rural, and urban communities with multiple different cultural components. And they serve the oldest population of all states in the Union! The organization’s ED utilization in its early years was historically around 775 visits per thousand – a significantly high number when compared to other ACOs in the country which were well below 700. At the same time, the ACO was about 10% lower than other ACOs in providing primary care services. Find out how MaineHealth was able to implement a Value Oversight Committee, leverage tech...2020-09-1449 minThe Race to Value PodcastEp 8 – Creating a Culture of Improvement and Innovation, with Jen Moore
MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization (MHACO) serves a uniquely heterogeneous population that is spread across coastal, rural, and urban communities with multiple different cultural components. And they serve the oldest population of all states in the Union! The organization’s ED utilization in its early years was historically around 775 visits per thousand – a significantly high number when compared to other ACOs in the country which were well below 700. At the same time, the ACO was about 10% lower than other ACOs in providing primary care services. Find out how MaineHealth was able to implement a Value Oversight Committee, leverage tech...2020-09-1449 minEp 8 – Creating a Culture of Improvement and Innovation, with Jen Moore
MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization (MHACO) serves a uniquely heterogeneous population that is spread across coastal, rural, and urban communities with multiple different cultural components. And they serve the oldest population of all states in the Union! The organization’s ED utilization in its early years was historically around 775 visits per thousand – a significantly high number when compared to other ACOs in the country which were well below 700. At the same time, the ACO was about 10% lower than other ACOs in providing primary care services. Find out how MaineHealth was able to implement a Value Oversight Committee, leverage tech...2020-09-1449 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOInnovation Grant WinnersWe announce the projects that won innovation grants from the MaineHealth ACO this year and take a close look at one of them, an effort led by Maine Medical Partners dermatologist Elizabeth Seiverling, MD, to train and engage primary care providers in early detection of skin cancers.2020-09-0108 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOFinding Community Resources & Curbside VaccinationMaineHealth introduces a new searchable database of local socio-economic assistance programs and a LincolnHealth pediatric practice quickly stands up a curbside vaccination program during the pandemic.2020-08-1113 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACORace and Two Kinds of PerformanceThis episode features commentary from co-hosts Dr. Julie Grosvenor and Dr. Mike Clark on racial inequity, a look at positive utilization performance numbers from the ACO's annual report and an interview with MidCoast Hospital physicians who've been performing together in a rock band for 20 years.2020-07-0813 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOThe Telehealth GenieCMS Administrator Seema Verma said recently that the “genie is out of the bottle” when it comes to telehealth. So, how will telehealth change the nature of medical practice? How should providers prepare? In this episode, co-host Mike Clark, MD poses those questions and more to telehealth expert Danielle Louder of the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center. 2020-06-0219 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOResuming In-Person CareJoin us to explore how MaineHealth plans to resume in-person care for non-COVID patients with time-sensitive conditions, learn about a new resiliency-building Project ECHO session for providers and hear about new “coding cards” to help specialists increase the precision of their clinical documentation. Guests: Cheryl Liechty, MD; Steve DiGiovanni, MD; Stacey Ouellette; Joel Wirth, MD; Eiren Menhennitt. We’d love your suggestions for news stories and provider profiles. Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2020-05-1122 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOUncertainty and GratitudeTwo primary care physicians share personal reflections on the pandemic in Maine so far – private practices overcoming financial uncertainty, gratitude for colleagues, the impostor syndrome, camaraderie and coming out the other side. With host Mike Clark, MD and guest Rob Chamberlin, MD.2020-04-0718 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOPatient Experience & Choosing SNFsRecently, the media picked up on a report issued by HealthGrades and MGMA that ranked Maine doctors last in a “patient sentiment” survey. Mike and Julie discuss this finding and other aspects of patient experience with Omar Hasan, MD, MaineHealth’s chief quality and safety officer. Also, Heidi Wierman, MD, introduces the 2020 Skilled Nursing Facility Index, a tool from the ACO to help providers, discharge planners, families and patients identify the most appropriate SNF for post-discharge care. We’d love your suggestions for news stories and provider profiles. Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2020-03-0119 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOBig Changes at the TopIn this special episode, Mike and Julie interview the incoming and outgoing presidents of the ACO. Plus, Kristen Silvia, MD, updates us on MaineHealth’s integrated medication assisted treatment (iMAT) program for patients with opioid use disorder. We’d love your suggestions for news stories and provider profiles. Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2020-02-0117 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOHow We Did in 2019The MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization works with providers to improve the quality and lower the cost of care. So, what kind of success did providers and the ACO see in 2019? Julie and Mike discuss. Also, Amanda Powell, MD applies shared decision making to increasing colorectal cancer screening among diverse patients and Sarah Shepherd, MD compares her roles as ED clinician and improv actor. Hey! We want your suggestions for news stories and provider profiles. Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2020-01-0217 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOWhat's the Point of an ACO, Anyway?Julie and Mike get back to basics and discuss why accountable care organizations exist. Also, Kathryn Galbraith, MD talks about making the most of payer incentives and Janet Fowle, MD, encourages providers to volunteer at one of Maine’s most celebrated summer camps. Have a suggestion for a Meaty Topic? Know a provider who would be good to interview for our Sizzle or Chewing the Fat segments? Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2019-12-0119 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACONovember 2019: Medicare Imaging Regulation, Shirley Frederick, Nicole DonahueJulie and Mike discuss new Medicare rules and procedure for ordering advanced imaging, Sanford primary care physician Shirley Frederick talks about her practice’s pilot to increase screening for early signs of dementia and Franklin Health Pediatrics provider Nicole Donahue introduces her practice’s efforts to directly address food insecurity among patients and families. Have a suggestion for BACON? Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2019-11-0117 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOOctober 2019: Dr. Greg Leach, Dr. Rob Chamberlin, Medicare AdvantageLearn why MaineHealth is getting into Medicare Advantage plans and what it means for providers, hear how an ancient Chinese movement practice is helping patients recover mobility, meet our new CMO. Have a suggestion for BACON? Email us at mailto:bacon@mmc.org.2019-10-0115 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOSeptember 2019: Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhardt, Dr. Doug Sawyer, Quality MeasuresJulie and Mike respond to provider questions about the ACO’s quality measures, Elizabeth Eisenhardt discusses engaging residents in quality improvement and Doug Sawyer reflects on his role as volunteer cardiologist at the Greater Portland Health community center. Have a suggestion for BACON? Email us at mailto:bacon@mmc.org.2019-09-0314 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOAugust 2019: Dr. Brad Samojla, Dr. Nicole Cherbuliez, from PHO to ACOThis month's topics range from the joys of telescribes to a brief history of the evolution of the ACO to running the Boston marathon at age 50.2019-08-0115 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOJuly 2019: Dr. Kate Herlihy, Dr. Patty Cantlin, Where to Go for CareReducing ED utilization is the subject of two segments this month. In our Meaty Topic, Mike and Julie introduce the ACO’s Where to Go for Care infographic designed to help patients decide when to go to the ED. In The Sizzle, Kate Herlihy reviews her successful initiative to reduce pediatric ED visits in western Maine. And, for a little variety, Julie takes us outside to visit Patty Cantlin’s patient garden at Maine Nephrology Associates. Have a suggestion for BACON? Email us at bacon@mmc.org.2019-07-0115 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOJune 2019: Dr. Eric Worthing, Dr. Rifat Zaidi, Clinical DocumentationA girls’ school in rural Pakistan, hypertension control at LincolnHealth and better clinical documentation: all in this episode.2019-06-0415 minBACON from the MaineHealth ACOMay 2019: Dr. Rob Merrill, Dr. Dave Johnson, MSSPJulie and Mike discuss the ACO's future with the Medicare Shared Savings Program and impact on providers. Dr. Rob Merrill reveals how he hit all the ACO quality targets in 2018 and Dr. Dave Johnson reports on his medical mission to rural India. 2019-04-2415 min
Love Maine Radio with Dr. Lisa BelisleDr. Betsy Johnson, president & CEO of MaineHealth Accountable Care OrganizationBetsy Johnson is president and CEO of MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization. With over 17 years of experience in healthcare leadership and 20 years of clinical practice experience in internal medicine, Dr. Johnson brings to the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) her passion for building and supporting a community model of health care that is value-based, integrated, and patient-centered. Through teamwork and partnership across the health system, she has helped facilitate the transition of the MMC Physician-Hospital Organization (PHO), Community Physicians of Maine (CPM) into an integrated ACO advocating for a culture of accountable care, provider engagement, transparency, and achievement of the Quadruple...2017-11-0900 min
Catching Your MemoriesCancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment/Dr. Scot RemickMaine has one of the highest cancer rates in the country. MaineHealth, the state's largest healthcare system, just got a grant from the Alfond Foundation to expand access to cutting-edge treatments. Dr. Scot Remick is chief of medical oncology at Maine Medical Center, a member of MaineHealth. He is also chief of the newly created Cancer Care Network. which will link all of the MaineHealth hospitals to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The relationship is especially important for smaller, more rural hospitals in the network. Dr. Remick talks about important advances in the treatment of cancer in general and how the...2017-07-1138 min
Health Leader ForgeKatie Fullam Harris, SVP of Government Relations for MaineHealthToday's guest is Katie Fullam Harris, the Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Accountable Care Strategy for MaineHealth, in Portland, Maine. Katie oversees the development, implementation and coordination of state and federal advocacy on behalf of the MaineHealth System, and also leads the development and implementation of strategy that supports improved access and value for health care consumers and purchasers and the alignment of incentives for providers in the MaineHealth System. Prior to coming to MaineHealth, Katie worked in a variety of not-for-profit, government, and for-profit institutions.In this podcast, Katie and I discuss her career journey...2016-08-011h 16