The MaineHealth Podcast

WTKE - Episode 51: Benefits 101

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 51
Benefits 101 with Sue Pelletier

Employee benefit programs are an essential part of any organization's total rewards strategy. These programs provide employees with valuable benefits, such as health care, retirement savings, and paid time off, that help support their overall well-being. By offering competitive and comprehensive benefit programs, employers can attract and retain top talent, while also promoting a healthy and productive workforce.

In the latest podcast, Kelly is joined by Vice President of Total Rewards and Operations Sue Pelletier to discuss MaineHealth’s benefits philosophy and goals, and the range of benefits we offer as part of our Total rewards program.

WTKE - Episode 50: Affordability

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 50
Affordability: a conversation with CEO Andy Mueller, MD

Health care affordability is a critical issue that affects access to care, health outcomes and overall well-being. As the cost of health care continues to rise, it has become increasingly difficult for many people to afford the care they need. In the latest episode, Kelly discusses the concept of affordability in health care with MaineHealth CEO Andy Mueller, MD —from defining what affordability means, to the challenges we face, to the potential solutions to improving health care for the communities we serve.

AOD August 7, 2024: Tim Fitzgerald, MD and Jen Moore

Andy's Open Door Recording
August 7, 2024
Guests: Dr. Tim Fitzgerald and Jen Moore

Andy’s guests this week were Tim Fitzgerald, MD, Director of MaineHealth Maine Medical Center - Portland's Surgical Oncology Program, and Jennifer Moore, President of MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization, who spoke about the innovative work under way to improve patient outcomes.

Jen described how value-based care aligns with our goals of improving quality, reducing cost, and enhancing patient experience. She highlighted some of the initiatives the ACO is leading or supporting, such as palliative care, care access and navigation, and chronic kidney disease. Tim shared his journey as an academic and clinical surgeon who is passionate about continuous quality improvement. He presented an overview of a successful peri-operative initiative he led to reduce care variation and improve outcomes for surgical patients.

WTKE - Episode 49: LGBTQ+ Health and Inclusive Care

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, episode 49 
LGBTQ+ Health with guest Rae Egbert, PsyD, LADC, JD

According to a KFF survey, LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to report negative experiences while receiving health care in the last three years, such as being treated unfairly or with disrespect, having a provider assume something about them without asking, or refusing to prescribe needed pain medication. These negative experiences can have detrimental effects on the health of LGBTQ+ adults, such as making them less likely to seek health care, causing their health to get worse, or making them switch health care providers.

In this Working Together episode, Kelly discusses how MaineHealth is investing in LGBTQ+ Health to support this population and our caregivers. Joining Kelly in the conversation is Rae Egbert, PsyD, LADC, MaineHealth Director of LGBTQ+ Health.

AOD July 17, 2024: MHIR Panel Discussion

Andy's Open Door Recording
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
MaineHealth Institute for Research panel

Andy visited the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) today for an engaging Andy’s Open Door panel discussion about the evolution, innovation and impact of MHIR in our communities. Joining Andy were MaineHealth Chief Academic Officer Doug Sawyer, MD, PhD; Abby Fleisch, MD, MPH; Aaron Brown, PhD; and Rob Smith, MD, MPH.

Andy opened the program by discussing our Patient-Centered value in the social media space and the importance of protecting the privacy of our patients. 

The panel spoke about the remarkable research under way and how research has evolved at MaineHealth over the past 30-plus years – transforming from a few people engaged in research projects decades ago to an Institute employing 261 people today. They shared their personal and professional journeys to MHIR and their areas of focus – Rob Smith’s Vector-borne Disease Lab, Aaron Brown’s work on obesity and related metabolic disorders, and Abby Fleisch’s environmental health research.

They discussed how MHIR is working together in our rural and island communities, on the state and national level, and with many other research institutions such as Harvard, Tufts, UMass/Amherst and others. They also explored how artificial intelligence will impact research.

 

BACON - Episode 62: Helping Our Patients Age in Place

BACON: Helping Our Patients Age in Place

Evidence 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.

BACON is the MaineHealth ACO’s monthly news and information podcast, hosted by Mike Clark, MD and Heather Ward, MD. Find previous episodes here on Podbean or listen at our website.

WTKE - Episode 48: MaineHealth Medical Group Roadmap

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 48
MaineHealth Medical Group Roadmap

The MaineHealth Medical Group (MHMG) formally came together in October 2021. The past few years have focused on building the foundational elements of a unified medical group.  In the latest episode of Working Together, Dr. Aileen Mickey, President MHMG and Dr. Cornelius Ferreira, CMO MHMG, sit down with Kelly to reflect on accomplishments to date and share what we can expect to see over the next three to five years.

AOD June 26, 2024 with Dr. Ben Farino

Andy's Open Door Recording
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Guest: Dr. Ben Farino

How did one practice significantly move the needle on their quality measures in just nine months? Dr. Ben Farino, Associate Medical Director at MaineHealth Primary Care Internal Medicine Scarborough, joined Andy today to explain how the entire practice came together to make that happen – and some other unexpected benefits they experienced along the way.

The program began with a recently recorded conversation at the practice with Andy, Dr. Farino, Practice Manager Pam Stevens and Medical Assistant Mandy Grady. Using the Balanced Scorecard and Quality Dashboard as a catalyst, the team shared how they worked together to improve health care outcomes by understanding how each individual impacts patient care.

WTKE - Episode 47: Roadmap for Quality and Safety

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 47
Roadmap for Quality and Safety

Quality and Safety are at the forefront of everything we do at MaineHealth. And just like our broader organization, the Quality and Safety division of MaineHealth is on a transformative journey.

In the latest episode, MaineHealth Chief Quality Officer Dr. Omar Hasan joins Kelly to discuss the roadmap for quality and safety at MaineHealth and some of the key initiatives we are embarking on.

BACON - Ep. 61: The Remarkable Benefits of HPV Vaccine

BACON - Ep. 61: The Remarkable Benefits of HPV Vaccine

The 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.

BACON is the MaineHealth ACO’s monthly news and information podcast, hosted by Mike Clark, MD and Heather Ward, MD. Find previous episodes here on Podbean or listen at our website.