The MaineHealth Podcast

WTKE - Episode 66: Diagnostic Excellence

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 66
Diagnostic Excellence with guest: Mark Parker

Diagnostic accuracy is an important component of clinical excellence. Nonetheless, diagnostic errors continue to adversely affect patients worldwide. Despite their significance, these errors have not been as extensively studied as other patient safety issues such as medication errors, procedural complications, and hospital-acquired infections. Although diagnoses are made by clinicians, health system vulnerabilities frequently influence clinical reasoning and contribute to diagnostic errors. In this episode, Vice President of Quality and Safety Mark Parker and Chief Operating Officer Kelly Elkins discuss how MaineHealth is prioritizing diagnostic excellence as a key patient safety concern.

WTKE - Episode 65: From Gifts to Impact at MaineHealth

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 65
Guest: Erin Brown

In the latest episode, Kelly explores how charitable giving fuels our health system —often bridging the gap between what is and what’s possible. From million-dollar donations that help build hospital towers to grassroots fundraising that funds life-saving equipment, these gifts are more than generous—they’re transformative.

Joining Kelly in the conversation is Erin Brown, MaineHealth Chief Development Officer. They discuss how we are reshaping our approach to philanthropy within the system and the potential impact on healthcare delivery in our communities.

Curbside Consult: Ep.1 - Pediatric GI with Anna Furr

Welcome to the first episode of our Curbside Consult podcast, featuring MaineHealth pediatric gastroenterologist Anna Furr, DO! In this powerful conversation, Dr. Furr shares insights on improving access to pediatric specialty care and the urgent need for deeper collaboration between primary care providers and specialists.

Listeners will hear strategies to streamline specialty access, including the use of e-consults, accessible referral guidelines, and innovative patient education efforts through social media. Dr. Furr stresses that by working together differently, primary and specialty care teams can help reduce family frustrations, strengthen referral confidence, and better serve their communities.

Listen to how we can build a better, more connected future for pediatric care in Maine and New Hampshire. You can also listen on your favorite podcast app.

Curbside Consult is hosted by practicing family physicians Mike Clark, MD, and Heather Ward, MD. Mike owns and operates his own practice, Lifespan Family Healthcare, in Newcastle, Maine and Heather is a physician leader in MaineHealth’s Coastal Region.

WTKE - Episode 64: Reducing Care Variation

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 64
Reducing Care Variation with guest Gina Quinn Skillings, MD

Reducing care variation is a strategic priority on MaineHealth’s five-year strategic plan and annual balanced scorecard.

In the latest episode, MaineHealth Chief Operating Officer Kelly Elkins and Senior Director Clinical Integration Gina Quinn Skillings, MD, explore how differences in clinical practices across providers, hospitals and regions impact patient outcomes, costs and quality of care. They also discuss strategies for reducing unnecessary variation, improving standardization, and ultimately delivering better, more consistent care. From data-driven decision-making to frontline clinician engagement, you will hear how MaineHealth is advancing this important work.

Celebrating Care Team Heroes: A Week of Appreciation

Join us as we celebrate Care Team Appreciation Week with Andy Patstone, regional president from the coastal region, and Andy Mueller, MD, CEO of MaineHealth. From Andy M:

It’s one of my favorite times of the year when we really get to turn the spotlight onto you – our incredible care team – and express our appreciation for the heroic work you do every day. I don’t use that word lightly; to me, it means bringing compassion and respect, excellence and integrity to our interactions with our patients, one another and community. 

Heroic is thoughtfully listening and validating, focusing on the individual and their individual needs as they bring their whole selves to us seeking care and support. Heroic is leading with kindness and honesty and maintaining a steadfast commitment to safety with Positive Patient Identification (PPID), hand washing, utilizing our best practices and advocating in all components of care delivery. It is collaborating, taking responsibility and embracing change.

Thank you for bringing your talents, expertise and dedication to our patients – and one another - each day as we continue working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.

WTKE - Episode 63: A Conversation with CEO Andy Mueller MD

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 63
A Conversation with CEO Andy Mueller, MD

On April 9, Andy Mueller, MD marked his fourth anniversary as MaineHealth’s Chief Executive Officer. In this episode, Kelly sits down with Andy to discuss the current state of MaineHealth, the headwinds impacting health care, disruptors (both positive and negative), and how we are positioning ourselves to navigate turbulent waters and shape our sustainability for the future.

Recorded on Wednesday, April 2, 2025

AOD 04-02-25: Innovating Primary Care in Westbrook Maine

Andy's Open Door Recording
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Guests: Dr. Don Medd and FNP Caitlin Costigan

On Wednesday morning, Andy spoke with Dr. Don Medd and FNP Caitlin Costigan from Westbrook (Maine) Primary Care. Their discussion focused on the challenges that primary care teams are facing today and the practice's innovative strategies to deliver a better experience for both the care team and patients.

Andy, Don and Caitlin talked about the practice’s teamlet approach, nursing workflows and wraparound care, and how a capitated vs. fee-for-service care model is changing the paradigm.

 

WTKE - Episode 62: A Conversation with CFO Rich Bayman

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 62
Guest: Rich Bayman, MaineHealth CFO

With a career dedicated to financial stewardship in healthcare, Chief Financial Officer Rich Bayman brings a unique perspective on balancing fiscal responsibility with a mission-driven approach to patient care. In the latest episode, Kelly introduces MaineHealth’s new CFO, and we learn about Rich’s journey, leadership insights, and the crucial role of finance in driving health care transformation.

AOD 03-19-25: Guest Rich Bayman CFO

Andy's Open Door Recording
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Guest: Rich Bayman, MaineHealth CFO

Join us in this episode as we introduce Rich Bayman, our new Chief Financial Officer, who brings a wealth of experience in healthcare finance and strategic growth. Andy spoke with Rich about his journey to MaineHealth, current health care challenges and the strategies we’re using to address them. They answered some great care team questions, ranging from Rich’s thoughts on the best advice he’s ever received to the impacts of delayed MaineCare payments.

WTKE - Episode 61: MaineHealth Emergency Medical Services

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 61
MaineHealth EMS with Mike Senecal

In this episode, Mike Senecal, Senior Director of MaineHealth EMS, and Chief Operating Officer Kelly Elkins dive deep into the world of emergency medical transport and interfacility transfers — the vital but often overlooked lifeline of our health system.

From community 911 services to the complex coordination of inter-hospital transfers, Kelly and Mike explore the challenges and innovations MaineHealth is addressing with its EMS transport service.