Heleana Nickerson of Houlton Regional Hospital

Honored At the Annual Maine Diabetes Conference

Congratulations  to Heleana Nickerson for being the recipient of the 2012 Beacon Award presented at the annual Maine Diabetes Conference.  The Beacon Award Speech 2012 read as follows:

Heleana Nickerson – This year’s recipient of the Maine Diabetes Educator’s Beacon Award.

     Three years ago she became the co-leader, job sharing that position with Laura Gordon and exhibiting great team work.  When Laura resigned as co-chair in 2010, this person managed the conference planning process for that year without a co-chair.

She assumed a major role in all committee activities, running bi-weekly meetings for at least half of the year, sending out meeting notices and minutes, taking an active part in lining up speakers and myriad other details.  She only had help with minute taking for part of the year, but never complained.

     This past year she has had the help of Ev Beliveau as co-chair, but has still taken on the major tasks of the committee and fulfilled them in an outstanding manner.  She has always been well organized and never seems to waiver in her enthusiasm.

     By now you should know, that the winner of the Beacon Award for this year is Heleana Nickerson.”  

The Beacon Award is an award given by the Maine Association of  Diabetes Educators (MeADE) annually to a member who has made an outstanding contribution to their Chapter.  This is the 7^th year this award has been presented.

 Heleana is a Licensed Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Educator.  Heleana provides diabetes education, including insulin pump education and intensive diabetes management.  She also provides nutrition education, related to weight management, celiac disease and cardiovascular issues.  Services are available by appointment with a referral from a medical provider.

Heleana will be celebrating 30 years of employment with Houlton Regional Hospital in September 2013.

Healing Hearts and Touching Lives

Celebrated at Houlton Regional Hospital’s

 Cardiac Rehab Department

Edward Campbell in the HRH Cardiac Rehab facility.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, celebrated at Houlton Regional Hospital this past February, was initiated by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).  It coincides with both Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month in an effort to draw greater national attention to heart health.  This year’s theme, “Healing Hearts and Touching Lives,” honors the patients, families and healthcare professionals who are dedicated to cardiac rehabilitation as a vehicle for a healthy lifestyle.

 The Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Houlton Regional hospital has been “healing hearts and touching lives” for over 30 years.  Professional and compassionate staff provides a positive environment for patients at risk for heart disease and/or those individuals diagnosed with heart disease or dysfunction to improve their health and physical performance. 

As part of celebrating Cardiac Rehab Week, participants were asked to share their thoughts on what cardiac rehab means to them and we are pleased to be able to share them with you.

• “The staff are professional, courteous and knowledgeable.  Participants develop a bond and a caring attitude for each other which encourages regular attendance.  Probably, most important, is that cardiac rehab makes you do what you probably would not do on your own at home – it develops commitment to better health.”
• “Whenever I am asked why I am still in cardiac rehab I usually answer, ‘because it is a matter of life or death – Mine!’…..It is what keeps me going and striving for a long and healthy life.”
• “Part of the reason Cardiac Rehab is important to my life is because of the education I have received on how I can now take better care of myself.”
• “This program motivates me….to learn how to eat right….”
• “Being here at Houlton Regional Hospital’s program has been a God-send to me because it allows me to pursue exercise with safety.  Put another way, it is like having a registered nurse as your personal trainer.  The machinery here is top notch, and while we use it, the nurses often provide the education we need to recover……..This is a safe and productive place for me to be, with friendly, supportive people, and is right across from the Emergency Room at HRH”.
  

  George Russell at HRH.

 Many more comments received center around the camaraderie, support and motivation that is gained while attending rehab.

 The staff of Cardiopulmonary Services at Houlton Regional Hospital wish to congratulate all past and present attendees of the Cardiac Rehab/Wellness program for their accomplishments and progress towards a healthy heart.

 For more information on the Cardiac Rehab Department you may call 207-521-2517, or speak with your physician.

Effective October 15 Houlton Regional Hospital will be participating with HealthInfoNet, Maine’s statewide health information exchange.

Houlton Regional Hospital will be joining 25 other hospitals in the State of Maine who are already participating with HealthInfoNet

It is anticipated that by January 1, 2013 an additional 6 Maine hospitals will be connected to HealthInfoNet, with the remaining Maine hospitals participating with HealthInfoNet by December 31, 2013

HealthInfoNet includes important information about your health.

Included in your HealthInfoNet record:                 Not included in HealthInfoNet:

Medicines (prescriptions), allergies, lab and test             Information created by a substance

results, image reports, conditions, diagnoses,                             abuse facility or a licensed mental

or health problems from your participating                                 health provider.

caregivers.

Your name, birth date, address, sex, phone                      HIV diagnoses and results of HIV

number, and social security number (if                              tests.

provided to your caregiver) to make sure                                  (Note: HealthInfoNet can include

your health information is entered into the                                  information that may indicate a

correct record.                                                                         sensitive health condition.  For

example: If a patient shares mental

health or substance abuse informa-

tion with a primary care provider or

in a hospital emergency room, this

information may be included and

viewed in HealthInfoNet by other

providers caring for them.

Houlton Regional Hospital will be continuing to provide additional information about HealthInfoNet over the next few weeks

Visit www.hinfonet.org for more information

Houlton Regional Hospital is participating in a program called Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB). This national program was developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The goal is to engage frontline hospital nurses and leaders at all levels of organization to:

-          Improve the quality and safety of patient care on medical surgical units

-          Increase the vitality and retention of nurses

-          Engage and improve the patient’s and family members experience of care

-          Improve the effectiveness of the entire care team

A TCAB committee was formed on the Acute Care Unit (ACU) in August 2011. Members include five staff nurses, the Nurse Manager of the Acute Care Unit, and the Director of Nursing. Many positive changes have been implemented on our Acute Care Unit to improve patient safety and patient satisfaction as well as increase nurse time at the bedside, such as the following:

Bedside Reporting: Bedside reporting takes place at the change of shift between the day nurse and the night nurse. With the patient’s permission, both nurses come to the patient’s room and present information about the patient’s diagnosis and explain their plan of care. This provides an excellent opportunity to ask questions about the care as well as meet your oncoming nurse.

Huddles: “Huddles” involve the healthcare team (doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social services) gathering at the start of each shift for a brief meeting to discuss each patient’s progress and discharge plan. A communication tool to keep everyone informed of the patient’s plan of care.

Safety Stars: Safety stars were implemented as another communication tool for staff to identify patient need. Color coded stars symbolize the patient’s risk and what is required to keep them safe.

Newspapers: During the admission process, patients are now asked if they would like to receive the Bangor Daily News or Houlton Pioneer Times throughout their stay thanks to the Volunteers at Houlton Regional Hospital.

The Cancer Prayer and Support Group is a place to hear methods of coping with symptoms of their illness, discuss and share resources about dealing with side effects of treatment, to discuss the daily impact of cancer and to find tremendous support and hope for the future.

Date:               First Tuesday – monthly – October 2, 2012

Time:               1:30pm to 3pm

Place:               Center For Community Health Education

Contact:          Dr. Don Woods at 532-7553

Effective October 15 Houlton Regional Hospital will be participating with HealthInfoNet, Maine’s statewide health information exchange.

 Houlton Regional Hospital will be joining 25 other hospitals in the State of Maine who are already participating with HealthInfoNet

 It is anticipated that by January 1, 2013 an additional 6 Maine hospitals will be connected with HealthInfoNet and by December 31, 2013 the remaining Maine hospitals will all be participants

  WHAT IS HEALTH INFONET?

• HealthInfoNet is Maine based.
• HealthInfoNet is independent and is not owned by insurance companies, health care organizations, associations, employers or government.
• Health InfoNet is a private nonprofit organization.

HEALTHINFONET’S HISTORY

• 2004 Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine CDC, Maine Quality Forum and Maine Health Information Center study need and support for an exchange in Maine.
• 2005 Stakeholders begin planning and development.
• 2006 HealthInfoNet incorporated with Devore Culver, formally Chief Information Officer of Eastern Maine Healthcare, as Executive Director.
• 2008 the demonstration phase began.  Participants included Maine Health, Central Maine Healthcare, Eastern Maine Healthcare, Maine General Health, Martin’s Point Health Care, Franklin Memorial Hospital and the Maine CDC.

HOW DOES IT WORK

• HealthInfoNet’s system combines information from separate health care sites to create a single electronic patient health record.
• Patient health information is automatically uploaded from a provider’s electronic medical record system.
• The information is standardized and aggregated across care sites.
• HealthInfoNet automates reporting of certain illnesses and conditions like Lyme disease or food poisoning, to public health experts at the Maine CDC.

Over the next few weeks Houlton Regional Hospital will continue to share additional information about HealthInfoNet

Visit www.hinfonet.org for more information

Houlton Regional Hospital is now  participating with HealthInfoNet, Maine’s statewide health information exchange. We join 25 other hospitals in the State of Maine who are already part of this program.  

It is anticipated that by January 1, 2013 an additional 6 Maine hospitals will be connected with HealthInfoNet and by December 31, 2013 the remaining Maine hospitals will all be participants

  WHAT IS HEALTH INFONET?

• HealthInfoNet is Maine based.
• HealthInfoNet is independent and is not owned by insurance companies, health care organizations, associations, employers or government.
• Health InfoNet is a private nonprofit organization.

HEALTHINFONET’S HISTORY

• 2004 Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine CDC, Maine Quality Forum and Maine Health Information Center study need and support for an exchange in Maine.
• 2005 Stakeholders begin planning and development.
• 2006 HealthInfoNet incorporated with Devore Culver, formally Chief Information Officer of Eastern Maine Healthcare, as Executive Director.
• 2008 the demonstration phase began.  Participants included Maine Health, Central Maine Healthcare, Eastern Maine Healthcare, Maine General Health, Martin’s Point Health Care, Franklin Memorial Hospital and the Maine CDC.

HOW DOES IT WORK

• HealthInfoNet’s system combines information from separate health care sites to create a single electronic patient health record.
• Patient health information is automatically uploaded from a provider’s electronic medical record system.
• The information is standardized and aggregated across care sites.
• HealthInfoNet automates reporting of certain illnesses and conditions like Lyme disease or food poisoning, to public health experts at the Maine CDC.

Over the next few weeks Houlton Regional Hospital will continue to share additional information about HealthInfoNet

Visit www.hinfonet.org for more information

Click for the Diabetes_Risk_Assessment

Dr. Chester  “Chet” Husted of Houlton has been recognized by  his  peers in the May edition of the Downeast Magazine. The Downeast Magazine surveyed more than two thousand physicians across the state and asked them to recommend the specialist they would choose if they or a family member had a health problem.

Dr.  Husted  was recommended for Orthopedic Surgery.   Recognition by one’s peers is a true honor, and we’re  pleased to see the high opinion his fellow Doctors have of a surgeon who means so much to us locally.

In the same article, doctors statewide were asked,  “What keeps you  practicing medicine inMaine?”  Houlton’s Dr. Ted Sussman earned a featured quote by summing it up with,  “Living and working in rural medicine… the people rock.”

The full article is available in the May edition of “Downeast”  which can be found on newsstands now.

Pictured are sister in laws Sharon Kenney, left celebrating 40 years of service with HRH and right, Sharon Pangburn, celebrating 45 years of service with HRH.

Sharon Pangburn was recently honored for 45 years of service to Houlton Regional Hospital at its annual Employee Recognition Banquet.

Sharon originally joined Aroostook General Hospital on School Street in the Business Office on April 26, 1967, indicating to get a job with the hospital was considered a very good job.  Sharon performed payroll duties and had accounts payable responsibilities. 

Approximately five years later Aroostook General Hospital and Madigan Hospital joined into one hospital, maintaining both sites.  At that time Sharon and the entire business office moved to the Madigan Hospital where Sharon then started performing billing duties.

Sharon recalls the subsequent move to Hartford Street as a fairly smooth transition and eventually returned to Payroll where she has remained.

She recalls very fondly many people she enjoyed working with; Lois Cumming, Stella Fowler, Lavona Varney and Martha Barton.

Sharon forms an elite trio of employees at Houlton Regional who have marked the 45 plus years of service; Sharon Pangburn, Pauline Hogan and Barbara Bossie.  When asked if it was her goal to work for Houlton Regional for 50 years, Sharon just smiled and indicated “no comment”!

Sharon resides in Ludlow with her husband, Steve.  They have two children; Janelle Lowe also residing in Ludlow and a son, David who resides in Florida.  Sharon loves to read a good book, “when she has the time”.

Congratulations Sharon

For more about the HRH Emplyee Recognition Banquest click here.