We want to hear from you!
Send your questions, article or letter to the editor to thescope@mmc.org .
July 3, 2019
PEER SUPPORT
for the MMC Medical Staff
Physician leader: Christine Hein, MD
Confidential • One-on-One • Peer Support
FEATURED ARTICLES
  • Medical Executive Committee Nominations
  • Journal of MMC Inaugural Issue
  • Cardio Outcomes Report

Scroll down to read these and other new articles and more.
Letter from Joel and Chris
The Daadab refugee complex in Kenya was established in 1991 for political refugees escaping the Somalian civil war, after the overthrow of longtime Somali leader, President Mohamed Siad Barre. Political instability led to decades-long deterioration of the national government resulting in an absence of law or any central authority. Economic instability and collapse ensued, placing millions of Somalians at risk as violent groups sought to coalesce power.


"Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?"
- Excerpt from "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver

Submit a quote to thescope@mmc.org .

Clinical Topics
MEC Representative Nominations
By Lisa Almeder, MD, Chair, Nominating Committee; Christopher Cary, MD, Medical Staff President; Nathan Mick, MD, President-Elect; Stuart Abramson, MD, Treasurer
The Nominating Committee of the Medical Staff is seeking to create a slate of nominees to be elected representatives to the Medical Executive Committee.

Journal of Maine Medical Center Publishes Inaugural Issue
By Bob Bing-You, MD, MMC Vice President, Medical Education, and Editor-in-Chief, JMMC
I am very excited to inform Scope readers of the inaugural first issue of the Journal of Maine Medical Center! I believe you will find a great collection of articles with Maine-centric topics, including interprofessional and rural areas of interest.

National D2d study completed at Maine Medical Center
By Irwin Brodsky, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Diabetes, Maine Medical Partners, Endocrinology and Diabetes Center; Adjunct Scientist, Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute; Associate Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Maine Medical Center was a key participant in the national randomized clinical trial entitled the D2d Study (Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes study). The study was coordinated by Anastasios Pittas, MD, MS, at the Division of Endocrinology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. According to the Medical Center, this was the largest-ever clinical trial to specifically examine whether Vitamin D can help prevent progression from prediabetes to diabetes.

2019 Cardiovascular Outcomes & Innovation Report Published
By Marco Diaz, MD, Interim Chief of Cardiovascular Services
Cardiovascular Services at MaineHealth is an integrated network of hospitals, health care providers and specialists, built with your patients’ needs at the very center. We provide comprehensive heart care to Maine and Mt. Washington Valley residents through a coordinated system that is designed to achieve the best possible cardiac and vascular outcomes.

MaineHealth Cancer Care Network Launches ‘Innovations in Cancer Care’ Video Series
By Scot Remick, MD, Chief of Oncology, MaineHealth Cancer Care Network and Maine Medical Center
Over the past 12 months, the MaineHealth Cancer Care Network has made significant investments in treatment options, which include expanding our capacity to include additional services and therapies, research, resources for information technology, survivorship programs, patient education and new population health initiatives.

MMCRI Grants Focus on Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
By Doug Sawyer, MD, PhD, Chief Academic Officer, Maine Medical Center; Interim Director, Maine Medical Center Research Institute
I am excited to announce the following grants recently awarded to Drs. Liaw and Reagan at MMCRI. This is exciting work that enhances our mission of researching new ways to provide care.

Anesthesiology: Current Research and Quality Projects
By Chris Cary, MD, President, MMC Medical Staff
The anesthesia team, under the direction of David Warters, MD, Craig Curry, MD, and Janelle Richards, CCRP, has developed the following ongoing investigations. These investigations help form the foundation of anesthesia care, provide best practices and teach our learners critical thinking.

Patients as Teachers Program Celebrates Patient Centered Care
By Victoria Hayes, MD
On June 1, seven members of the Maine Track class of 2020 -- James Finney, Elena Cravens, William Hirschfeld, Kelsey O'Neil, Ben Guido, Nabeel Hashmi and Sydney Ford -- honored patients in a celebration held at the Brighton Campus, as part of the Patients as Teachers (PaT) program.

Maine Track Expansion Newsletter, Summer 2019
It’s Possible! Epic Efficiency Tips: Special Upgrade Edition
By MaineHealth Information Technology
One of the biggest improvements happening as part of the Epic Upgrade on June 29 is the Visit Taskbar for ambulatory ordering workflows. This change will reduce clicks and enable providers to place orders more conveniently.

BACON Podcast: Bite-sized News and Interviews for Providers
By Paul Santomenna, Sr. Communications and Public Affairs Manager, MaineHealth
Get relevant info, learn from your peers and connect with colleagues in just 15 minutes by listening to BACON, the MaineHealth ACO’s monthly provider podcast.

Care Team Well Being
Brown Bag Series for Med Staff, Residents and Fellows
There are currently no Brown Bag sessions scheduled.
Publications, Achievements and Recognition
Faculty Appointments and Promotions
Maine Transplant Program Honored with NKR Excellence in Teamwork Award

The Maine Transplant Program (MTP) is one of eight kidney transplant centers across the country being honored with the “NKR Excellence in Teamwork Award 2019.” The award is given by the National Kidney Registry (NKR), which helps coordinate living donor kidney transplants involving donors and recipients from different states.

Maine Medical Center receives A-fib Gold Quality Achievement Award from American Heart Association
By Jill A Knutson, BSN, RN, Electrophysiology Program Manager, and Henry Sesselberg, MD, Electrophysiology Medical Director

Maine Medical Center (MMC) has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Get With The Guidelines A-fib Gold Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the AHA guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib), an irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke and other complications.

Posters and Presentations

Rebecca Hutchinson, MD, MPH, Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program Director and Physician Scientist, along with other MMC colleagues, shared multiple posters and a case session at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine National Annual Meeting in Orlando in March.

Dr. Brian Beck Receives Osteopathic Champion Award

Brian Beck, DO, received the Sandra Featherman, PhD, Osteopathic Champion Award from the Maine Osteopathic Association at their annual conference in Rockland on June 8.
Events and Important Dates
McKusick Lecture and Incoming Class Reception

Thursday, July 25
1 p.m. - Lecture
2:30 pm. - Reception
Dana Center

Welcome the Tufts University School of Medicine Maine Medical Center Program Class of 2023. This year's lecture features Edison Liu, MD, President, CEO and Professor, The Jackson Laboratory.

RSVP by July 19: 662-2299 or cdersimoni@mmc.org
8th Annual Faculty Development Conference

October 9, 2019
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Dana Center, Bramhall Campus, Maine Medical Center

Guest Speaker: Wiley "Chip" Souba, MD, MBA, ScD, Former Dean of Dartmouth Medical School

Medical Staff Dinners

Next dinner:
Wednesday, September 25
5:30 p.m.
Dana Center
We Want Your Article Submissions
Your participation is essential to making The Scope a dynamic and sustainable publication. Please submit articles of 250-300 words to thescope@mmc.org . Include practitioner’s byline with title, credentials and appropriate contact for further information. We publish on the first Wednesday of each month, all submissions are due one week prior to publication. Learn more.

Medical Staff Value, Mission and Vision Statements
Value Statement
The Medical Staff of Maine Medical Center values both individuality and collaboration. We will continually pursue higher value health care. We embrace a culture of curiosity and life-long learning. We are partners with Maine Medical Center, and we mirror its values of compassion, service, integrity, respect, and stewardship.
 
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Medical Staff of Maine Medical Center is to provide affordable, high-quality health care to our community. We teach future health care providers and develop innovative ways to improve the health of our community. In partnership with the Medical Center, we proudly accept our responsibility as one of Maine’s leaders in patient care, education, and research.
 
Vision Statement
The Medical Staff of Maine Medical Center will be the driving force within Maine Medical Center leading the way to making Maine the healthiest state in the nation.