Maine Medicine Weekly Update - November 25, 2019
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MMA Legislative Calls Will Start Again in January; Organizational Meeting 12/10 at 6 p.m., MMA HQ

An in-person meeting to prepare for the Second Regular Session (2020) of the 129th Maine Legislature will be held Tuesday, December 10th, at 6:00 p.m. at MMA Headquarters in Manchester, and regular legislative calls will resume the first week of January.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/870795232

Meeting ID: 870 795 232

One tap mobile: +16468769923,,870795232#

Dial by your location: +1 646 876 9923 US

Meeting ID: 870 795 232

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ac8R4xMSHV

In the meantime, enjoy your wintry November, and don't forget to cultivate your relationships with your representative and senator. They appreciate hearing from you, not just on health issues but on any matters in which you have an interest.

Former Oregon Health System CEO to Lead Northern Light EMMC

Rand O'Leary, former CEO of Oregon's Peace Health Oregon Network, has been selected as the new president of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Rand O'Leary, former CEO of Oregon's four-hospital system Peace Health Oregon Network, has been selected as the new president of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Mr. O'Leary will begin his duties December 9, 2019. He replaces Donna Russell-Cook, who left EMMC in April.

For more information, you can read the article in the Bangor Daily News.

Highlights of CMS' 2020 Physician Fee Schedule and QPP Proposed Rule

The AMA has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the 2020 physician fee schedule and quality payment program (QPP) proposed rule.

[from the AMA Advocacy Update]

The AMA has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the 2020 physician fee schedule and quality payment program (QPP) proposed rule. AMA comments focus primarily on two issues. First, while the AMA greatly appreciates CMS' proposal to align the previously finalized office visit coding changes with the framework adopted by the Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) Editorial Panel, the AMA urges CMS to finalize the CPT codes and guidelines and AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) recommendations exactly as implemented by the CPT Editorial Panel and submitted bythe RUC. Second, the AMA commends CMS for responding to the AMA's recommendations in crafting its Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) value pathways (MVP) proposal. Modifications will be needed to ensure that the MVP is voluntary, is a more holistic track for physicians than the current MIPS program, and provides a minimum point floor for those who report via this track.

In addition to the above, principal recommendations on the 2020 proposed rule are as follows:

CMS should implement the proposed increases to office visits to the visits included within the surgical global payment packages.
The AMA fully supports and endorses the recommendations and comments of the RUC regarding potentially mis-valued services, as well as the RUC's recommendations for valuation of specific codes.
The AMA generally supports the proposed coverage changes for new codes relating to substance use disorder, remote patient monitoring, e-visits and self-measured blood pressure monitoring. It recommends that CMS work with the CPT Editorial Panel to further promote the use of digital medicine in Medicare.
The AMA supports CMS' attempts to improve data collection efforts for the determination of Professional Liability Insurance Relative Value Units (PLI RVUs), and encourages CMS to work with the RUC to make the PLI RVUs as accurate as possible for all specialties.
Several aspects of the proposed payment policies for management of opioid use disorder treatment are consistent with previous AMA policy recommendations, but these policies should better account for patients who need a more resource-intensive bundle of services.
The AMA is supportive of efforts to increase the use of care management services; however, CMS should inform Congress that positive updates to the Medicare conversion factor are needed to expand these services. CMS should also work with the CPT Editorial Panel to expand or redefine care management services.
The AMA urges CMS not to finalize its proposal that would place the burden on physicians to notify beneficiaries of coinsurance. Instead, CMS should eliminate any out-of-pocket costs associated with screening colonoscopies

This Week's Public Health Updates from the AMA

Click through for a brief update on recent public health issues, provided by the American Medical Association's electronic publication, Morning Rounds. [This article is updated weekly.]

Sleeping too little may increase osteoporosis risk in post-menopausal women, researchers say

The New York Times (11/20, Bakalar) reports, “Sleeping too little may increase the risk for osteoporosis” in post-menopausal women, research indicated. In a study involving bone scans, investigators “compared 1,080 women who slept less than five hours with 4,025 who slept the recommended seven hours.” The scans revealed that “women who slept less than five hours had significantly lower bone mineral density and higher odds of osteoporosis at the hip, spine and total body.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Increase in underage vaping said to overshadow drop in traditional smoking among youths

The AP (11/21, Perrone) reports that “the smoking rate among U.S. high schoolers took its biggest hit ever this year, federal figures show, falling to a new low,” but “the milestone was relegated to a lone figure at the bottom of a government press release and went unremarked by anti-tobacco groups that have spent decades working to stamp out youth smoking.” The AP calls this “a new era in the tobacco wars – one in which the alarming rise of underage vaping has almost completely overshadowed a parallel drop in traditional smoking.” The piece says that “the pivotal question of whether electronic cigarettes are inadvertently helping to wipe out smoking among young people has become a polarizing topic: embraced by some experts, dismissed by others.” The AP cites Tuesday’s announcement by the American Medical Association, which “called for a ‘total ban’ on all e-cigarettes and vaping products.”

Canadian teenager who used e-cigarettes develops near-fatal lung condition that resembles “popcorn lung”

The Washington Post (11/21, Shammas) reports, “A Canadian teenager who used e-cigarettes developed a near-fatal lung condition that does not resemble the vaping-related illnesses that have swept the United States,” as physicians “say the 17-year-old boy’s case looks more like ‘popcorn lung,’ an injury once seen in factory workers who breathed in a chemical used to create a butter flavor.” The teen’s case was reported Wednesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Reuters (11/21, Steenhuysen) reports, “Although the case shares similarities with the more than 2,000 cases of vaping-related illnesses in the United States, the injury is different. Instead of damaged air sacs in the lungs, the teen had damaged airways, which his doctors believe were caused by chemical injury.”

Early menopause may increase cardiovascular disease risk, study suggests

The New York Times (11/21, Bakalar) reports, “Early menopause, before age 40, may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.” Researchers used a British health database and “studied records of 144,260 postmenopausal women,” finding that “over all, compared with women who reached menopause after 40, those who reached menopause earlier either naturally or by surgery were at significantly increased risk for a first cardiovascular disease diagnosis.” The study was published in JAMA.

U.S. data on intended home births show more than 60 percent of pregnancies had risk factors

Reuters (11/21, Crist) reports, “Experts recommend that home birth only be considered for low-risk pregnancies, but that’s often not what happens in the U.S., where no formal guidelines exist, researchers say.” The piece says that “U.S. data on intended home births from 2016 through 2018 show that more than 60% of the pregnancies had risk factors that could lead to complications and possibly maternal or infant death,” and “these risk factors, such as high maternal age or previous cesarean delivery, would trigger automatic advice against planning a home delivery in many other countries.” The study was published online in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

CDC: Diabetes rate among Latinos exceeds that among whites

The Miami Herald (11/21, Veciana-Suarez) reports that “the incidence rate of [type 2] diabetes for Latinos...is 17 percent, compared to 8 percent for” non-Hispanic whites, according to the CDC. One study, the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos “found that, among all Hispanic/Latino groups, the prevalence of diabetes also varied among individual Latino groups, with a high of 18.3 percent for those of Mexican descent and a low of 10.2 percent for those of South American descent.” Cuban Americans “fell in the middle, at 13.4 percent.” The article adds that if “you’re a Latino adult, your chance of developing the chronic disease is more than 50 percent in your lifetime.”

Air pollution may kill around 200,000 Americans each year even when pollution levels are below EPA’s guidelines, study suggests

Newsweek (11/21, McCall) reports a study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that “air pollution kills around 200,000 Americans each year even when pollution levels remain below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s current guidelines.” The researchers conducted “a decade-long cohort study monitoring the health of more than 45 million--predominantly male, predominantly white--veterans. Over the 10 years, 36.4 percent of the veterans (1,647,071) died of various causes, including several linked to air pollution.” The researchers then used a model to analyze this information and “estimate the total number of deaths that may be caused by exposure to PM2.5.”

Physician Files Constitutional Challenge to Certificate of Need

A North Carolina physician has filed a legal action against the state's Department of Health and Human Services challenging the constitutionality of the certificate of need requirement.

A North Carolina physician, Dr. Gajendra Singh, has filed a legal action against the state's Department of Health and Human Services challenging the constitutionality of the certificate of need requirement. Dr. Singh seeks to overturn the North Carolina law requiring him to obtain a certificate of need before purchasing an MRI scanner. He claims the law is unconstitutional because its purpose is solely to protect existing providers from competition.

A state superior court judge has denied the Department's motion to dismiss the case, ruling that it is not necessary to go through a statutorily required process to challenge it. According to Dr. Singh's attorneys, the North Carolina Constitution specifically outlaws state-enforced monopolies and requires that laws be applied evenly to protect citizens' right to pursue their chosen businesses.

The case is being handled by the Institute for Justice, a non-profit, libertarian, public interest law firm.

Safe Sleep Research Project - Provider Survey to improve recommendations for parents

To better guide providers in counseling the parents of infants about safe sleep, and share key resources with parents, a short survey was developed to allow an evaluation of what factors influence how pediatricians, family practitioners and advanced-practice providers discuss this topic with their patients’ families.

Participation is voluntary and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. There are no direct benefits to being in this study. One risk would be loss of confidentiality, but this will be minimized as the investigators will not be able to see the e-mail address of anyone responding. Please do not provide identifying information in your responses. The survey content could be distressing to individuals with personal or professional experience with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID).

This study was approved by the Maine Medical Center Institutional Review Board. For questions, contact the MaineHealth Institutional Review Board at (207) 661-4474. Please click on the following link to complete the survey: https://collaborate.tuftsctsi. org/redcap/surveys/?s= 8TM7X43JC

HealthCare.gov 2020 Open Enrollment Ends on December 15

Open Enrollment for 2020 health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace ends in less than 3 weeks on Sunday, December 15.

2020 Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment for 2020 health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace ends in less than three weeks on Sunday, December 15.

There are now more free and low-cost health coverage options in Maine With the expansion of MaineCare eligibility and declining premiums on HealthCare.gov, more Mainers can now get a comprehensive plan that works for their budget.

This year there is a new resource to help Mainers understand their options and connect to local help. Visit CoverME.gov for information about affordable health coverage for Maine.

Information about health coverage options and enrollment assistance is also available at enroll207.com.

Healthcare.gov Enrollment Assistance

Consumers for Affordable Healthcare Consumer Assistance Hotline 1-800-965-7476.
https://enroll207.com/how-to-get-help/
A directory of brokers and assisters in Maine is available at https://localhelp.healthcare.gov.

From The Alzheimer's Association: Making a Plan of Care for Patients with Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, can be difficult and time consuming to discuss with patients.

Making a Plan of Care for Patients with Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, can be difficult and time consuming to discuss with patients. Although in-depth care planning is beneficial for all, this type of service has not been covered under Medicare - until recently. CPT® code 99483 provides reimbursement for a clinical visit that results in a comprehensive care plan, allowing you to deliver services that can contribute to a higher quality of life for your patients. Clinicians who can be reimbursed under the code include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives. Care planning for individuals with dementia is an ongoing process and a formal update to a care plan should occur at least once per year or when indicated by disease progression.

Click this link for additional information on care planning and the CPT® code 99483:
https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-clinicians/care-planning

Diagnosis, Treatment an Management of Dementia:
https://www.alzmassnh.org/hospital/physician-cme-course/

For more information, contact:
Peter Baker, LCSW, Program Director
Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter
207-772-0115 x9691 1-800-272-3900 pbaker@alz.org

Maine Legislature's List of Bill Titles for 2020 Session: Initial Approval List

The Maine Legislature has published the list of bill requests for the 2020 session. Click through for lists, by subject and by sponsor, of those bills which have received initial approval. Appeal is still available for those not receiving initial approval.

The Maine Legislature has published the list of bill requests for the 2020 session. Click through for lists, by subject and by sponsor, of those bills which have received initial approval.

Appeal is still available for those not receiving initial approval, with the Legislative Council to meet on those items December 6 at 10:00 a.m. The list of titles being appealed is here.

Upcoming Specialty Society Meetings

Below you will find an on-going list of Upcoming Specialty Society Meetings. Any questions should be referred to the contact person listed for each specialty.

UPCOMING SPECIALTY SOCIETY MEETINGS

December 11, 2019
Maine Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians Chapter Meeting
Portland Regency Hotel – Portland, ME
Contact: Cathy Stratton at 207-592-5725 or cstratton@mainemed.com

February 1-2, 2020
Maine Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting
Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel & Conference Center – Carrabassett Valley, ME
Contact: Lisa Montagna at 207-620-4015 or mesahq@gmail.com

February 7-9, 2020
Maine Urological Association & Rhode Island Urological Society’s 2020 Winter Program
Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel & Conference Center – Carrabassett Valley, ME
Contact: Dianna Poulin at 207-480-4194 or dpoulin@mainemed.com

March 25, 2020
Richard Engel, MD, FACP 2^nd Annual Primary Care Symposium
Maine Chapter, American College of Physicians and MMC Department of Medicine
Maine Medical Center – Portland, ME – 8:00am – 12:00pm
Contact: Warene Eldridge at 207-215-7118 or mainechapteracp@gmail.com

April 1-4, 2020
28th Annual MAFP Family Medicine Update & Annual Meeting
DoubleTree by Hilton Portland, Portland, ME
Full brochure and registration available after January 15, 2020 at www.maineafp.org
Contact Deborah Halbach at 207-938-5005 or maineafp@tdstelme.net

April 16-17, 2020
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians, 14^th Annual Spring Program
Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport, ME
Contact Dianna Poulin at 207-480-4194 or dpoulin@mainemed.com

May 1, 2020
Maine Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons Spring Meeting
Harraseeket Inn – Freeport, ME 11:30am - 5:00pm
Contact: Shirley Goggin 207-445-2260 or sgoggin@mainemed.com

May 1-3, 2020
American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter Annual Meeting and Spring Conference
Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center – Freeport, ME
Contact: Dee Kerry 207-480-4185 or dakerry@aapnet

MMA partners with the Maine Suicide Prevention Program and the Maine CDC/Sweetser to offer training for clinicians.

MMA continues to partner with the Maine Suicide Prevention Program to offer training for clinicians.

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program, administered by NAMI-Maine, is excited to announce their Fall schedule. The following suicide prevention, assessment and management trainings are open for registration. MMA works closely with NAMI-Maine to provide educational opportunities for Maine physicians and other clinical providers. CMEs and contact hours for licensure are offered as appropriate.

Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training

Suicide Prevention Training of the Trainers

Suicide Assessment for Clinicians Training

Non-Suicidal Self Injury Training

Suicide Prevention Protocol Development Training

Suicide Prevention Curriculum Training

If you have needs not identified in the above list, please contact Nicole, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, to discuss the possibility of a customized training program.

The Maine CDC and Sweetser are offering free online Suicide Prevention Training Modules!

Enrolling is easy. There are 12+ courses available at no charge. Download the flyer with enrollment info here.

Sample modules:

· Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

· Depressive Disorders in Children and Adolescents

· Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)

· Collaborative Assessment & Management of Suicidality (CAMS)

· Safety Planning Intervention for Suicide Prevention

· Suicide Risk Factors, Screening and Assessment

10th Annual Maine Patient Safety Academy - March 30, 2020

This all-day conference will focus on the interprofessional nature of patient safety, with the theme: Vision 2020 - Looking at the Future of Patient Safety

This all-day conference will focus on the interprofessional nature of patient safety, with the theme: Vision 2020—Looking at the Future of Patient Safety

What: 10th annual Maine Patient Safety Academy

When: Monday, March 30, 2020

Where: University of Southern Maine, Abromson Center

Cost: $60 general | $25 students and faculty

Call for Abstracts/Posters (deadline Dec 1, 2019): https://forms.gle/BDvKFFbg1258XdYq6

Website FMI and to register: http://mainepatientsafetyacademy.org/

Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital seeks a BC/BE General Surgeon

Bread and butter surgery, with high volume elective surgery and low volume emergency surgery. Upper and lower endoscopy ability required. Breast surgery preferred, but not required.

Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital seeks a BC/BE General Surgeon. Bread and butter surgery, with high volume elective surgery and low volume emergency surgery. Upper and lower endoscopy ability required. Breast surgery preferred, but not required.

Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is a progressive, Joint Commission accredited, 25-bed Critical Access Hospital in Pittsfield, Maine that serves an area encompassing 40,000 people throughout the central region. Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is a member of Northern Light Health, an integrated statewide health delivery system that is raising the bar with no-nonsense solutions that are leading the way to a healthier future for our state.

Why Northern Light Health?

Robust compensation and benefits package

Student Loan Reimbursement Programs

Relocation Bonus

Sign on Bonus

Flexible schedules and exceptional work/life balance

Generous PTO benefits

For confidential consideration, please submit CV to: Providerjobs@northernlight.org

01/13/20

Family Medicine Physician

Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is seeking a full time Family Medicine physician to join Sebasticook Valley Family Care, a modern practice located just off I-95 in Pittsfield.

Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is seeking a full time Family Medicine physician to join Sebasticook Valley Family Care, a modern practice located just off I-95 in Pittsfield. This is an excellent opportunity to come join a team of well-established, quality-driven providers serving the greater Pittsfield community. Our team of advanced practitioners are committed to providing excellent medical care, exceptional service and a satisfying relationship between patient and provider. We do this by blending the latest technology with oldfashioned care and customer service. Our skilled office staff and providers work as integrated care teams to provide our patients with a full spectrum of family care. Work schedule is 4 days per week, with limited telephone call from home. This position comes with competitive compensation, fringe benefits, assistance with medical education debt, signing/relocation bonus negotiable.

Sebasticook Valley Hospital (SVH) is a 25-bed, regional Critical Access Hospital for the more than 30,000 residents living in our footprint. Our neighbors count on us as a resource for healthcare and health information. SVH is part of Northern Light Health, an integrated health system serving the great state of Maine. For confidential consideration, please contact: Sherry Tardy, physician recruiter: Northern Light Health-Provider Recruitment at PRoviderjobs@northernlight.org or 207.973.5358 (office).

12/16/19

Family Medicine Opportunity in Beautiful Western Maine

Western Maine Primary Care, a department of Stephens Memorial Hospital, is currently seeking a BC/BE family medicine physician to join our exceptional team of providers.

Western Maine Primary Care, a department of Stephens Memorial Hospital, is currently seeking a BC/BE family medicine physician to join our exceptional team of providers. Western Maine Primary Care is committed to providing high quality care. Now is a great time to join our team as we recently relocated our practice to our brand new, state-of-the-art medical office building.

Stephens Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, is a part of the MaineHealth family, the premier healthcare system in Maine, and is nationally renowned for its innovative programs in rural healthcare. This position offers teaching opportunities of medical students, as Stephens Memorial Hospital is one of the teaching sites for the Maine Medical Center – Tufts University Medical School program. Come be a part of our dynamic team of providers and exceptional support staff and experience the warmth of a small town combined with a medical community working closely with colleagues throughout the MaineHealth system.

Competitive salary and benefits, including student loan repayment and relocation assistance. FMI please contact Abbie Graiver, Director of Physician Recruitment at (207) 744-6049 or graiverab@wmhcc.org.

12/30/19

BC/BE Family Medicine or Internal Medicine Physician

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has an exciting leadership opportunity for a BC/BE Family Medicine or Internal Medicine Physician to lead our primary care network of five well-established, quality-driven, outpatient practices serving the greater Bangor community.

The Physician Director, Primary Care will collaborate with the Practice Director, Primary Care to form a dyad partnership in leading our primary care team, as well as provide peripheral oversight for our Walk In Care and university health center locations. The Physician Director of Primary Care will have clinical, operational, financial and strategic duties. This role is 80% administrative and 20% clinical practice.

Why Northern Light Health? We offer a robust compensation and benefits package, generous PTO benefits, loan repayment program, and an exceptional work/life balance.

For confidential consideration, please contact:
Amanda Klausing, FASPR, Physician Recruiter
ProviderJobs@NorthernLight.org
207.973.5358

12/2/19

Physician Director of Primary Care

Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Health has an exciting physician leadership opportunity for a Board Certified/Board Eligible MD/DO Family Medicine or Internal Medicine Physician to lead our primary care network of three family medicine practices. This is an excellent opportunity to lead a group of well established, quality driven, outpatient practices serving the greater Pittsfield community. Our team of physicians and NP/MHNP providers are committed to providing excellent medical care, exceptional service and a satisfying relationship between patient and provider. We do this by blending the latest technology with old-fashioned care and customer service. Our skilled office staff and providers work as integrated care teams to provide our patients with a full spectrum of family care. This role will be 20% administrative and 80% clinical practice.

For confidential consideration, please contact: providerjobs@northernlight.org

12/2/19

Full-time, Part-time and Leadership Opportunities for Physicians

TeamHealth is now partnering with Northern Light Health to provide integrated emergency medicine and hospital medicine services in Northern Light Health Hospitals throughout Downeast Maine.

TeamHealth is now partnering with Northern Light Health to provide integrated emergency medicine and hospital medicine services in Northern Light Health Hospitals throughout Downeast Maine. We have full-time, part-time and leadership opportunities for physicians to join our teams at Sebasticook Valley Hospital, Inland Hospital, Blue Hill Hospital, AR Gould Hospital and Maine Coast Hospital. TeamHealth offers free CME, a great work-life balance that gives you quality time with family and friends, and the potential to realize your career by growing into local, regional and national leadership positions. Northern Light Health is the most expansive integrated healthcare system in Maine offering care in locations across beautiful Downeast and inland Maine, an area known for its breathtaking vistas and seaside living. TeamHealth will be working with clinical teams at Northern Light Health to optimize operational efficiency and continue providing compassionate, high-quality care in an environment that prioritizes integration between emergency medicine and hospital medicine teams. For more information and to apply, click here.

12/2/19

Opportunities at the VA for Volunteer Physicians

Take advantage of this opportunity with the Veterans' Administration to thank our veterans in a concrete way for their service and their sacrifices.

The Physician Ambassador Program was created by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a best practice recruitment and placement initiative seeking fully licensed physicians and clinicians to enhance health care services for Veterans.

The Physician Ambassador Program is a without compensation program that provides civilian physicians and clinicians an opportunity to give back to the Veteran community by serving in a volunteer role to deliver health care services to Veterans.

If you are interested in participating in this program at VA Maine Healthcare System, please contact Jonathan Barczyk at (207) 621-4886.

Volunteer Opportunity with Partners for World Health

Partners for World Health has a great need for advice from certain medical professionals on how to sort and package the vast amount of supplies received, for shipping and use in destination countries.

Volunteer Opportunity with Partners for World Health - Portland, ME

Partners for World Health (PWH) is a non-profit 501(c)3 based in Portland, Maine committed to reducing medical waste, improving the quality of healthcare in underserved countries, and educating our local community about global healthcare issues.

Our mission is to collect unused/discarded medical supplies from local medical facilities and to distribute those medical supplies to international communities in need. This work limits the negative impact we have on the environment and provides much-needed resources to the developing world. To support our work in improving health conditions around the world, we send local medical personnel on medical missions to developing countries, and we educate our local Maine community about global health issues.

PWH has a great need for advice from certain medical professionals on how to sort and package the vast amount of supplies received, for shipping and use in destination countries, specifically, in the areas of:

Surgery: all aspects of OR medical supplies and equipment
Respiratory: any and all aspects
Anesthesia
Laparoscopic surgery: advice on the proper components of a “tower”
Cardiology

Please note: this request is not for ongoing time commitment but rather for a few hours of a professional’s time to help organize certain supplies appropriately.

While PWH receives tens of thousands of pounds of equipment/supplies from hospitals and clinics, there are certain critical items always in short supply.

For more information, contact volunteer Rita Zanichkowsky at rznct@maine.rr.com or 207-232-3264, or contact Partners directly at 774-5555. Thank you!

https://www.partnersforworldhealth.org/

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Maine Medicine Weekly Update - November 25, 2019(Print All Articles)