Maine Medicine Weekly Update - December 16, 2019 (Print All Articles)
Walmart Will Delay Electronic Prescribing Mandate
Walmart had previously
announced that it would require electronic prescribing for controlled
substances (EPCS) for all controlled substances as of January 1, 2020, with no
exceptions. The AMA and multiple medical societies opposed
the mandate, urging a delay due to the likelihood for patient harm and how
the Walmart policy did not comport with state or federal law. Now it has announced it will delay that mandate.
[from the American Medical Association]
Walmart had previously announced
that it would require electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS)
for all controlled substances as of January 1, 2020, with no exceptions. The
AMA and multiple medical societies opposed
the mandate, urging a delay due to the likelihood for patient harm and how
the Walmart policy did not comport with state or federal law.
We are pleased to report that
Walmart said it will delay its EPCS mandate.
"We recognize not
all provider networks and prescribers will have the technology and systems in
place to accommodate this requirement, so we will continue to take written
prescriptions so patients are not unintentionally negatively affected by
this process," Walmart spokeswoman Marilee McInnis said in a statement to USA
TODAY.
AMA President Patrice A.
Harris, MD, MA, provided the following statement to USA Today:
“The AMA welcomes Walmart’s decision to delay implementation of
an electronic prescribing mandate that would have resulted in harm to millions
of Americans, including many in rural areas who rely on Walmart as the only
pharmacy in reasonable distance. The policy, which the AMA urged Walmart to
delay, was not developed in consultation with the nation’s physicians, who
support electronic prescribing of controlled substances, but want to see it
implemented in a manner that supports—rather than disrupts—patient care.”
"The AMA will continue to work with physicians,
pharmacists, and other partners in health care to improve medication adherence,
including removing barriers that impede physicians from electronically
prescribing controlled substances."
The AMA will continue to
monitor this development, and it encourages the help of all physicians in sharing this
information with state medical and pharmacy boards, as appropriate, to
ensure all pharmacies and other stakeholders comply with state law governing
the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. Maine law requires opioids to be prescribed electronically, unless the prescriber has received a waiver from the Maine Prescription Drug Monitoring Program or fits into one of the few exceptions to the requirement.
U.S. CDC: At Least 1,300 Deaths from Flu This Season...So Far
A preliminary estimate from the U.S. CDC states that at least 1,300 people around the country have died from the flu so far this season.
CNN
(12/13, Bonifield, Gumbrecht) reported that “at least 1,300 people have died
from the flu so far this season, according to a preliminary estimate” from the
CDC. In addition, “there have been at least 2.6 million flu illnesses and
23,000 flu-related hospitalizations, according to the” CDC. The article also
listed the 23 states where the CDC says there is widespread flu activity. NBC
News (12/13, Edwards) reported that Dr. William Schaffner, medical
director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, said that the
early start of the flu season may indicate “we’ll have a prolonged influenza
season.”
Schmidt Institute Opioid Program Expands Statewide
A successful opioid and benzodiazepine prevention program sponsored by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mentail Health Services and the Schmidt Institute, a joint venture of St. Joseph's Hospital and Penobscot Community Health Center, is being expanded statewide.
[from the Maine Hospital Association's Friday Report]
A program that that has reduced patient dependence on
opioids and benzodiazepines in the Bangor area is being expanded statewide
through a partnership between the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services (SAHMS) and the Schmidt Institute, a joint venture of St.
Joseph Healthcare and Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC).
Since 2013, the Institute’s Controlled Substance Stewardship
(CSS) Program has been implemented at PCHC, a Federally Qualified Health Center
that serves 65,000 patients. This effort
has resulted in a 77 percent reduction in overall opioid and benzodiazepine
prescribing at PCHC’s practice sites, a key effort given that opioids put
patients at great risk for unintentional overdose and have not been proven
effective as a long-term treatment for chronic pain.
CSS provides support and consultation to prescribing
clinicians with a goal of promoting compassionate, coordinated care for
patients whose prescriptions are being tapered.
It also offers tools for clinicians and practice staff, such as informed
consent and patient-provider agreements that provide clear descriptions of risks
and expectations of treatment, and prompt referral and access to experts in
alternative pain management and other relevant services (e.g., medication-assisted
treatment for Opioid Use Disorder).
The program supports front-line providers who are caring for
patients with chronic pain, substance use disorders, mental illness and other
complex conditions. CSS disseminates to providers clear and practical policies
around evidence-based prescribing and management of opioids, benzodiazepines,
hypnotics and stimulants.
SAMHS, an office of the Maine Department of Health and Human
Services, is sponsoring a statewide expansion of the model, with the goal of promoting
safer, evidence-based treatment options for chronic pain, while supporting
providers in alleviating opioid prescribing issues and concerns.
The partnership will include establishing statewide
prescribing guidelines that providers and organizations can use to inform their
opioid prescribing and tapering practices, and clinical case reviews by the
Institute’s CSS Committee, an interdisciplinary team with expertise in
pharmacy, pain management, family medicine, psychiatry and care management.
Case reviews will be offered at no cost to providers in
Maine, thanks in part to financial support from the state of Maine through Overdose Data to Action, a federal Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention grant recently awarded to the state.
For more
information about the Schmidt Institute and their CSS work, contact: Larry
Clifford, director, planning
& development, Schmidt Institute, (207) 404-8032.
Opioid Related Webinars Offer CME Credit
MaineHealth has developed two learning modules for providers.
MaineHealth has developed two learning modules for providers.
- Difficult Conversations around Opioids
- Naloxone Education and Toolkit
Visit the MaineHealth
Opioid Education web page to access the modules. There
is no cost to participate in either of the modules and they can be taken at any
time. Upon completion, 0.50 CME hours are available (AMA PRA Category 1 CME
credits).
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.]
Suicide
rates for U.S. soldiers on active duty rose in America’s “endless” wars in
Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, research indicates
The NBC
News (12/13, Liautaud, Martin) website reported, “Suicide rates for
U.S. soldiers on active duty rose in America’s ‘endless’ wars in Vietnam, Iraq
and Afghanistan, reversing historical trends that go as far back as the Civil
War,” researchers concluded in a study that “also suggested there is no clear
link between combat operations and military suicide.” In arriving at these
conclusions, investigators “analyzed military records as far back as the 1840s
to develop what they say is the most extensive historical examinations of
suicide among active-duty soldiers to date.” The findings
were published online Dec. 13 in JAMA Network Open.
Hormone therapy combining estrogen and progestin for women
entering menopause tied to higher breast cancer risk up to 19 years after
treatment discontinuation, federal data indicate
The AP
(12/13, Marchione) reported results from the Women’s Health Initiative, a large
federal study, indicate “women who use certain types of hormones after
menopause still have an increased risk of developing breast cancer nearly two
decades after they stop taking the pills.” Moreover, physicians “say a new
generation of women entering menopause now may not be aware of landmark
findings from 2002 that tied higher breast cancer rates to” hormone replacement
therapy (HRT) “combining estrogen and progestin.” The findings presented at the
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium also showed “women on estrogen alone for
seven years had a 23% lower risk of developing breast cancer up to 19 years
later.”
Frail, older adults may struggle after even minor operations,
study suggests
In “The New Old Age,” the New
York Times (12/13, Span) reported research
published online in JAMA Surgery “has found that frail, older adults are more
likely than other patients to die after even supposedly minor procedures – and
even when the surgery goes well, without complications.” The study authors
recommended that physicians screen all older adult patients prior to any
operation, as “our data indicate that there are no low-risk procedures among
patients who are frail.”
Resistance
exercise may preserve BMD while dieting in adults with obesity
Reuters
(12/12, Rapaport) reports, “Obese adults who diet to lose weight may be able to
protect against bone thinning with resistance exercise,” research indicated.
Endocrinology
Advisor (12/12, Akirov) reports, “Resistance exercise alone or in
combination with aerobic exercise was found to be better than aerobic exercise
alone in reducing weight loss-induced decreases in hip bone mineral density
(BMD) in adults with obesity,” researchers concluded after examining “data from
160 participants aged ≥65 years in the Lifestyle Intervention Trial.” The findings
were published online in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Few childcare centers require children, childcare workers to get
flu shot, research indicates
Reuters
(12/12, Steenhuysen) reports research indicates “only a quarter of childcare
centers in the United States require children in their care to get a flu shot,
and even fewer require childcare workers to be vaccinated.” Investigators
arrived at this conclusion “based...on a 2016 telephone survey of 518 childcare
center directors in 48 states that were randomly chosen from a national
database of licensed U.S. childcare centers.” The findings
were published online in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Society.
Resources From The Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter is a source of resources and Information on caring for people living with dementia, tools to assist with cognitive assessment, diagnosis and care planning.
Diagnostic and Management Tools for Health Systems and Clinicians The Alzheimer's Association has partnered with government and professional organizations to develop several physician guidelines and recommendations that can help you care for your patients with dementia. Resources include detection of cognitive impairment in primary care, recommendations for defining preclinical Alzheimer's disease, appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET imaging, and more. https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-clinicians/guidelines_index_(1)
Tools to Assist with Cognitive Assessment during the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit The Alzheimer's Association convened a group of practicing expert clinicians to make consensus recommendations for an effective, practical and easy process for detecting cognitive impairment in the primary care setting.
https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-clinicians/cognitive-assessment
Diagnosing Patients With Dementia The Alzheimer's Association and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) jointly issued four criteria and guidelines to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, including recommendations for clinical office settings. https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-clinicians/dementia-diagnosis
How does one optimally manage a patient living with Dementia? Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions are needed to optimally treat the cognitive, behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Explore resources and tools to enhance and inform the treatment and management of patients living with dementia at https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-clinicians/management.
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.
https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-clinicians/care-planning
Diagnosis, Treatment and 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
MMA Legislative Calls Will Begin Tuesday, January 14th
MMA Legislative Committee Chairs Jay Mullen,
M.D. and Lindsey Tweed, M.D. welcome you to participate in the weekly conference calls of the MMA
Legislative Committee. The first MMA Legislative Committee weekly conference call for the Second Regular
Session of the 129th Maine Legislature will take place Tuesday, January 14th, at 8:00 p.m.
MMA Legislative Committee Chairs Jay Mullen,
M.D. and Lindsey Tweed, M.D. welcome you to participate in the weekly conference calls of the MMA
Legislative Committee.
The first MMA Legislative Committee weekly conference call for the Second Regular
Session of the 129th Maine Legislature will take place Tuesday, January 14th, at 8:00 p.m.
Legislative Committee members and specialty society legislative
liaisons are
strongly encouraged to participate. Any physician, practice manager, or
other
staff member who is interested in the MMA's legislative advocacy also is
welcome to participate. It is not necessary to RSVP for the calls. To
date the Legislature has printed approximately 1700 bills, and as the
deadline for committee consideration is approaching the number of bills
printed each week is beginning to dwindle. While that makes the work of
the legislative call shorter, it also allows for more in-depth
discussion of significant matters.
Please use the following conference call number and passcode. These
will remain the same for every weekly call during the session.
Conference call number: 1-603-766-5646
Participant ID - 699139#
The purpose of the weekly conference calls is to discuss the
MMA's position on bills printed the previous week, to hear the views of
specialty societies on the new bills or their concerns about any current health
policy issues, and to discuss the highlights of legislative action of the week.
The calls rarely last longer than an hour.
The following are bills of interest to the physician community
printed
last week. (For those not familiar with the term, a "concept draft" is a
bill that contains only a title and a brief description of what it is
intended to do. It does not contain the actual bill text.) We will
discuss the priority bills marked with an asterisk
(*) first.
Following are the bills of the week:
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.
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
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 2nd 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, 14th
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
Website FMI and to
register: http://mainepatientsafetyacademy.org/
Orthopedic Surgeon Opportunity in Beautiful New England
Our Northern
Light Inland Hospital and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital Network
seeks a BC/BE General or Hand Orthopedic Surgeon to join our Orthopedic
Specialist team.
Our Northern
Light Inland Hospital and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital Network
seeks a BC/BE General or Hand Orthopedic Surgeon to join our Orthopedic
Specialist team. This position will be split between the two hospitals
and the scope of practice will primarily focus on hand and upper extremity
surgery, while also including a component of general orthopedics.
Extensive hand surgery experience is a must! The ideal candidate
will have a desire for community outreach and promoting collaborative relationships
with other physicians in the community. The preferred candidate will also
have the interest to live within the hospital service area.
For
confidential consideration, please contact:
Nick Huff, DASPR,
CST
Provider
Recruiter
Email: providerjobs@northernlight.org
Phone:207-973-5358
Or apply directly to: https://northernlighthealth.org/Careers/Position/60311/Orthopedic%20Surgeon
3/16/20
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
- Flexible schedules and
exceptional work/life balance
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.
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
1/6/19
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 - Portland, ME
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.
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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