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Channel: In the Community – Waldo County General Hospital | Belfast, Maine
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WCGH Nutrition Services wins Empower Wellness Award

October 2, 2014, 7:57 am
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WLCME Award

 
Sheila Costello, manager of nutrition services at Waldo County General Hospital, and her staff were honored recently with a 2014 Empower Award in Employee Wellness, one of only four such awards in the state.

 
The award came from the Wellness Council of Maine, whose mission is “to advance and promote good health among employees statewide so that the business community can maintain productive workforces to help them thrive and prosper.”

 
To achieve that the Wellness Council, a statewide organization, helps businesses develop workplace wellness programs.

 
The nomination for Costello and her staff was based on the healthy changes that have been made in the hospital cafeteria, including:

  • eliminating the sale of soda and high sugar drinks;
  • replacing the candy near the cash register with fresh fruit and nut bars;
  • reducing the size of the cookies;
  • cutting high sodium and nutrient lacking meals with healthier options;
  • implementing the “Check Plus” program, which includes calorie information on everything in the cafeteria;
  • adding a daily wellness meal, which the whole nutritional breakdown;
  • working with local farmers to include fresh and local produce and meat; and
  • expanding the selection included in the salad bar along with the hours it is available.

 
The award was accepted by Brooke Reed, the hospital’s dietitian, at the Maine Wellness Leadership Summit & Awards Luncheon.

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Hospital Aid and Anglers team up

October 29, 2014, 10:25 am
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Want to enjoy an evening out at Anglers in Searsport and help the Waldo County General Hospital Aid at the same time?

 

Anglers front

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Anglers will donate 10 percent of its proceeds to the Hospital Aid.

 

Anglers, located at 215 E. Main St. (Route 1), is known for its seafood but also has non-seafood items on its menu.

 

Reservations are suggested for parties of six of more. Call 548-2405.

 

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WCGH Oncology Walk is Sunday

October 29, 2014, 10:33 am
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Waldo County General Hospital’s annual Oncology Walk will be held Sunday, Nov. 2. Registration begins at noon with the walk slated to head out at 1 p.m.

 

Registration is free; $10 with a t-shirt, and $25 with a fleece jacket.

 

Tickets for the basket raffle will be on sale in the hospital’s classroom from Oct. 27 to 31 and prior to the walk. Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5 or 15 for $10.

 

All proceeds will go to the Oncology Patient Assistance and Mammography Funds. The Oncology Patient Assistance Fund helps patients defray the cost of cancer treatments at Waldo County General Hospital. The Mammography Fund helps pay for mammograms and breast biopsies for patients with no insurance or insurance with a high deductible.

 

The walk is also meant to support cancer patients undergoing treatment; honor patients who have survived cancer; and especially to keep close the memory of those lost to cancer.

 

For more information about this year’s walk or raffle, call 930-2555.

 

 

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Open House in Liberty on Nov. 13

October 29, 2014, 10:42 am
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Have you been looking for a provider in your area? There will be an open house at the Donald S. Walker Health Center, 43 West Main St., Liberty, on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 4 pm to 6 pm.

 

Walker building

 

Attendees will get to meet the current provider, Valerie Poulos, PA, and the new team member in Liberty, Julie Hurley, DO.

 

Also at the open house will be new Waldo County General Hospital cardiologist Zachary Trzaska, MD.

 

Besides meeting the team in Liberty, there will be free flu shots and blood pressure checks. Refreshments will also be provided.

 

 

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Hospital Aid’s Silver Tea is Dec. 10

December 4, 2014, 7:20 am
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Dining Rm

The annual Silver Tea, sponsored by the Waldo County General Hospital Aid, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 2 – 5 p.m. at the home of Philip and Mary Carthage, 224 High Street (on the corner of Primrose and High Street), Belfast. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the sandwiches and desserts served by Aid members. Drinks will include punch, coffee and tea served from silver services.

 

This year’s setting is a Greek-revival style home built in 1851 for Calvin Hervey, a watch maker and jewelry store owner. Mr. Hervey was one of the original trustees of the Belfast Free Library.

 

entrance (3)

 

Guests will be welcomed by a dramatic entryway and original woodwork in the entry. In 2005, while the owners were away, a water pipe broke and flooded the kitchen area at the back of the house. This had been remodeled in a modern style although the fireplace surround is made of old doors that Mr. Carthage salvaged from another historical house in town. The kitchen floor boards were reused in the entryway.

 

Rooms on both floors will be open to tour. A built-in glass case on the second floor displays items found in the house, such as a Knights of Pythias uniform belonging to Col. Ben Lowe.

 

There is no admission charge to attend the tea, but donations will be accepted. All funds raised from the tea will benefit the hospital.

 

The winning tickets for the Aid’s holiday raffle “Spotlighting our Outlying Communities” will be drawn at the tea. The available prizes include gift certificates to stores, restaurants and entertainment venues in the towns where Waldo County Healthcare health centers are located. Tickets are on sale at $1 each or 6 for $5 at the hospital gift shop.

 

For more information, call 930-6739. The snow date for the tea is the next day, Thursday, Dec. 11, at the same time.

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Oncology Walk & Basket Raffle raises $7,500

December 11, 2014, 6:28 am
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Despite the cancellation of the walk due to a snowstorm, the Oncology Walk & Basket Raffle raised $7,500. The funds go to the Oncology Patient Assistance and Mammography Fund, which helps cancer patients and those in need of biopsies.

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Maine Harvest Week

December 11, 2014, 6:30 am
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To celebrate Maine Harvest Week, RSU 20 served locally grown food during the week, heard from some local farmers and enjoyed a literary buffet, where books were paired with either fruits or vegetables. On Monday, students at CASS elementary in Belfast enjoyed local beef, grown by Curtis Custom Meats in Warren and melon from Cross Patch Farm in Morrill for lunch. Students also heard from water buffalo farmers as part of a new program called lunch with a farmer. Then Mrs. Manning’s third grade class attended the literary buffet in the library where Lizzie was brave enough to eat an edible flower.

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Hospital Aid fall yard sale successful

December 11, 2014, 6:31 am
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The Hospital Aid made $1,520 at its fall yard sale.

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Annual campaign goal getting close

December 11, 2014, 6:31 am
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The goal of the hospital’s annual campaign is $115,000, Through Nov. 21, we have raised $104,712. Thank you to everyone who untitledhas contributed and if you haven’t, please consider a gift before the end of the year.

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Community Advisory Council annual meeting held

December 11, 2014, 6:36 am
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Members of the hospital’s Community Advisory Council were told at their annual meeting that the hospital successfully met its biggest challenge in 60 years: the implementation of electronic health records system.

 

“We went from stone tablets to state-of-the-art,” joked Waldo County Healthcare board president Lee Woodward, before crediting the six members of the administrative team with leading the effort.

 

Chief Operating Officer Dan Bennett and Chief of Quality Rob Fowler relayed to the group the preparation required before the go-live for the electronic health records, the success of the implementation and the challenges that lie ahead, especially a major upgrade in June 2015.

 

The bigger challenge for the upcoming year is going to be finding more ways to work with Pen Bay Healthcare. Woodward said, “We have been as financially successful as any hospital in Maine but if you are standing still, you are falling behind.”

 

As co-chair of the collaboration committee, Woodward said the work is going to be “challenging and exciting” and his guiding principle is going to be what is best for the health of Waldo County residents.

 

Andrea Patstone, Senior Vice President for System Development at MaineHealth, said healthcare is changing and it’s getting

 

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harder and harder to preserve access to high quality care.

 

She said while the Collaboration Committee is “probably not looking at a full merger,” there are likely ways to combine administrative and clinical services, and board governance.

 

“Price and cost of care really does matter,” she said, “and we need the population to make specialty care sustainable.”

 

Mark Biscone, President and Chief Executive Officer for both hospitals, said that in addition to the 18 areas where we are already sharing services (see Collaboration Committee story), they are working to add more collaborative services over the next several months. “It’s very good and long overdue,” he said.

 

“We need to be willing to take risks and be creative,” Patstone concluded.

 

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Mark Biscone: 2014 Citizen of the Year

December 11, 2014, 6:37 am
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Biscone receives his award from Dorothy Havey, Executive Director of the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce.

Biscone receives his award from Dorothy Havey, Executive Director of the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

Mark Biscone, President & Chief Executive Officer of Waldo County Healthcare and Pen Bay Healthcare, was honored recently by the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce as the 2014 Citizen of the Year. The award is voted on by the community.

 

Biscone has been with Waldo County Healthcare for more than 35 years. He was named the Executive Director of Waldo County General Hospital in March 1983, after working for nearly five years as the controller. Prior to that, he had worked at a hospital in Schenectady, NY.

 

Biscone oversaw a major expansion of services and specialty practices, from a renal dialysis unit to an in-hospital Hospice wing along with five rural health centers; building Penobscot Shores; and taking over the Belfast Public Health Nursing Association. More recently he completed a new operating suite; a sleep lab; a helicopter landing pad and an anticoagulation clinic.

 

All of this was accomplished at a time when federal regulations were leading to increased consolidation in the healthcare field and the closure of many small hospitals across the country. Waldo County was one of only a few Maine hospitals to consistently maintain a black bottom line.

 

Biscone with his wife Barb, oldest and youngest daughters, Kerensa, far right, and her husband Don and Erica, who were present to see Mark receive the award.

Biscone with his wife Barb, oldest and youngest daughters, Kerensa, far right, and her husband Don and Erica, who were present to see Mark receive the award.

 

 

But being in the black didn’t come from cutting the quality of patient care. Waldo County was awarded the prestigious Leapfrog Award in 2009 and in this year alone was named to iVantage’s 2014 “Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals” in the United States and also as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2014 “100 Great Community Hospitals” nationally.

 

When asked earlier this year to add to his duties at Waldo County by becoming the interim Chief Executive Officer of Pen Bay Healthcare, he didn’t hesitate. More work, certainly, but also a challenge and an opportunity to collaborate to provide the highest quality care in the region.

 

Biscone isn’t all work and no play. He enjoys working on the farm that he and wife Barb are creating. He is also actively involved with Rotary, especially with the 100 Fund Project, which provides clothing and toys to the 100 neediest children in the area each Christmas.

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Collaboration Committee formed

December 11, 2014, 6:37 am
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Waldo County Healthcare and Pen Bay Healthcare have formed a Collaboration Committee to expand the opportunities for collaborative services between the two organizations. The goal is to work together on services that have the ability to ensure long-term, affordable, accessible and high value healthcare to residents of both Waldo and Knox counties.

 

The 18-member committee is made up of seven members from the Waldo County Healthcare’s executive committee and seven from Pen Bay Healthcare’s executive commit-tee, along with the Chief Medical Officers and the medical staff presidents from both facilities.

 

CEO Mark Biscone talks with employees about the creation of the Collaboration Committee.

CEO Mark Biscone talks with employees about the creation of the Collaboration Committee.

 

That committee has been charged with returning to their respective boards of directors in about six months with recommendations for further collaboration.The guiding principles for the committee are:

 

 

•  High value healthcare: provide the residents of Waldo and Knox counties with the broadest-possible access to high quality, high value healthcare

 

•  Care close to home: deliver care as close to home for patients as is safe, clinically effective, and cost effective

 

•  Cost efficiency: ensure our clinical, facility and administrative resources are as efficient and streamlined as possible

 

•  Engagement with community and internal stakeholders: engage in active dialogue with healthcare leaders, community residents and Waldo and Pen Bay internal stakeholders to gather input and ideas

 

•  Local stewardship: respect the wishes of donors, maintaining oversight for charitable assets at a local level

 

The Collaboration Committee has also been asked to be “committed to providing high-value healthcare close to home” by being creative and innovative in its solutions; working with the local communities; thinking compassionately; being cost-effective in care delivery and communicating and being open with its recommendations.

 

Currently there are 18 areas where Waldo County Healthcare and Pen Bay Healthcare are already sharing services or are in the process of setting up partnerships. These include:
1.  Laundry services
2.  Marketing/communication services
3.  Nephrology services
4.  Home Health & Hospice
5.  Urology services
6.  Vascular surgery services
7.  Infectious disease physician services
8.  A Chief Medical Information Officer
9.  Epic go-live staff support sharing
10.  Cardiopulmonary department manager
11.  Coverage for department manager’s medical leave
12.  A dentist
13.  Grant writing services
14.  Speech therapy services
15.  Telepsychiatry services
16.  Oncology services
17.  Echo sonographer
18.  Telestroke services

 

At a community meeting about the Collaboration Committee, Biscone said he would like to at least double the list of services being shared.

 

He said the scale of population needed to recruit and retain specialists is met by combining the populations of Waldo and Knox counties.

 

Biscone added that by January, behavioral health services will be shared among Waldo, Knox and Lincoln counties. The administration of home health services in the three counties will also be combined.

 

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Gift card raffle winner

January 30, 2015, 8:29 am
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Robert Johnson of Searsport won the $100 Hannaford gift card in the Imaging Department’s raffle. Shown here with Johnson is Ann Hooper, Director of the Imaging Department.

Robert Johnson of Searsport won the $100 Hannaford gift card in the Imaging Department’s raffle. Shown here with Johnson is Ann Hooper, Director of the Imaging Department.

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Basket raffle winner

January 30, 2015, 8:29 am
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The Imaging Department at Waldo County General Hospital held a basket raffle to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The winner of the raffle was Carol Carr. Picking up the basket for her sister-in-law was Sally Carr of Belfast, center. Left to right, Ann Hooper, Director of the Imaging Department and Danielle Wight, who leads the mammography team.

The Imaging Department at Waldo County General Hospital held a basket raffle to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The winner of the raffle was Carol Carr. Picking up the basket for her sister-in-law was Sally Carr of Belfast, center. Left to right, Ann Hooper, Director of the Imaging Department and Danielle Wight, who leads the mammography team.

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New provider in Liberty

January 30, 2015, 8:30 am
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The Donald S. Walker Health Center in Liberty recently hosted an open house where attendees had an opportunity to meet the newest member of the team; Julie Hurley, DO, and her twins, Oren and Eva.

The Donald S. Walker Health Center in Liberty recently hosted an open house where attendees had an opportunity to meet the newest member of the team; Julie Hurley, DO, and her twins, Oren and Eva.

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Anglers donated to Aid

January 30, 2015, 8:33 am
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Sheila Hall, manager of Anglers in Searsport, recently presented Sally Millhorn, president of the Waldo County Hospital Aid, with a check for $300. Anglers held a Dine for a Cause night with a percentage of their proceeds to go to the Aid.

Sheila Hall, manager of Anglers in Searsport, recently presented Sally Millhorn, president of the Waldo County Hospital Aid, with a check for $300. Anglers held a Dine for a Cause night
with a percentage of their proceeds to go to the Aid.

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New Year’s Baby at WCGH

January 30, 2015, 8:33 am
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Thatcher Shane Thibodeau of Belfast is the 2015 New Year’s Baby at Waldo County General Hospital. Shown here with his mother, Shelly Gould, his father, Shane Thibodeau and one of his big sisters, Isabella, he was born Jan. 4 at 10:45 pm. Thatcher’s family, which includes siblings Brandon, Michael, Matthew and Sophia in addition to Isabella, was presented with a New Year’s Baby basket from the hospital.

Thatcher Shane Thibodeau of Belfast is the 2015 New Year’s Baby at Waldo County General Hospital. Shown here with his mother, Shelly Gould, his father, Shane Thibodeau and one of his big sisters, Isabella, he was born Jan. 4 at 10:45 pm. Thatcher’s family, which includes siblings Brandon, Michael, Matthew and Sophia in addition to Isabella, was presented with a New Year’s Baby basket from the hospital.

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Silver Tea held in historic home

January 30, 2015, 8:34 am
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The Aid's Marie Underwood serves some tea.

The Aid’s Marie Underwood serves some tea.

 

The annual Silver Tea, sponsored by the Waldo County General Hospital Aid, was held Dec. 10 at the home of Phil and Mary Carthage, 224 High St., Belfast. The public enjoyed tours of the historic home, along with the sandwiches, desserts, punch, coffee and tea served by Aid members.

Phil and Mary Carthage

Phil and Mary Carthage

 

This year’s setting was a Greek-revival style home built in 1851 for Calvin Hervey, a watch maker and jewelry store owner. Mr. Hervey was one of the original trustees of the Belfast Free Library.

 

The fireplace is surrounded by old doors that Phil Carthage salvaged from another historical house.

The fireplace is surrounded by old doors that Phil Carthage salvaged from another historical house.

 

Guests were welcomed into a dramatic entryway adorned with original woodwork.  In 2005, while the owners were away, a water pipe broke and flooded the kitchen area at the back of the house. This has been remodeled in a modern style although the fireplace surround is made of old doors that Mr. Carthage salvaged from another historical house in town. The kitchen floor boards were reused in the entryway.

 

Sally Millhorn, president of the Aid, left, and Judy Whitney, treasurer of the Aid, present Mark Biscone, CEO at Waldo County Healthcare, with donations from Aid fundraisers and from gift shop sales.

Sally Millhorn, president of the Aid, left, and Judy Whitney, treasurer of the Aid, present Mark Biscone, CEO at Waldo County Healthcare, with donations from Aid fundraisers and from gift shop sales.

 

Donations totaling $1,636 were collected during the event and the sale of raffle tickets for gift cards to businesses in the communities with health centers netted $1,301. All funds realized from the tea will benefit the hospital.

 

 

Among the Aid members helping out at the tea were, from left, Ida Jean Tyer, Jean Russell, Lucy Ledien, Lois Dutch (in back), Geary Tibbetts, Sandra Gordon (in back), Phyllis Gaul, Sally Millhorn, Jane Doak (in back) and Clare Tresham

Among the Aid members helping out at the tea were, from left, Ida Jean Tyer, Jean Russell, Lucy Ledien, Lois Dutch (in back), Geary Tibbetts, Sandra Gordon (in back), Phyllis Gaul, Sally Millhorn, Jane Doak (in back) and Clare Tresham.

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Dental clinic awarded BOA grant

January 30, 2015, 8:34 am
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Bank of America (BOA) recently presented Waldo County Healthcare’s (WCH) Waldo County Dental Care with a 2014 Critical Needs grant of $7,500. This is the second year the clinic, which serves low-income, uninsured adults, has been awarded this grant. The grant funds will be used to purchase equipment for the clinic’s part-time dentist. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Dan Bennett, Chief Operating Officer for WCH, Jason Lundy, Vice President at Bank of America, Shannon Robbins, Community Health Manager at WCH, Dale Kuhnert, a WCH Board of Directors member and Brian King, Senior Vice President and Site Director for Belfast’s BOA.

Bank of America (BOA) recently presented Waldo County Healthcare’s (WCH) Waldo County Dental Care with a 2014 Critical Needs grant of $7,500. This is the second year the clinic, which serves low-income, uninsured adults, has been awarded this grant. The grant funds will be used to purchase equipment for the clinic’s part-time dentist. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Dan Bennett, Chief Operating Officer for WCH, Jason Lundy, Vice President at Bank of America, Shannon Robbins, Community Health Manager at WCH, Dale Kuhnert, a WCH Board of Directors member and Brian King, Senior Vice President and Site Director for Belfast’s BOA.

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New delivery van carries a message

January 30, 2015, 8:35 am
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Shown here with Waldo County Healthcare’s new van are, from left, Barbara Crowley,RN, director of the hospital’s Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program, Chief Quality Officer Rob Fowler, RN, and seated in the van is Sandy Peaslee.

Shown here with Waldo County Healthcare’s new van are, from left, Barbara Crowley,RN, director of the hospital’s Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program, Chief Quality Officer Rob Fowler, RN, and seated in the van is Sandy Peaslee.

 

The new delivery van at Waldo County Healthcare (WCH) is a constant reminder of the 5-2-1-0 message: eat 5 fruits and vegetable servings per day; don’t have more than 2 hours of recreational screen time; participate in at least 1 hour of physical activity; and have 0 sugary drinks.

Barbara Crowley, RN who oversees the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program at the hospital says, “The program aligns with the national recommendations for health promotion and we wanted to make the 5-2-1-0 message visible throughout our community.”

Chief Quality Officer Rob Fowler RN adds, “Waldo County Healthcare is seen as a leader in the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program and is doing amazing work to support the program’s principles. When we purchased a new van this year it gave me the idea that it could become a way for us to share our good work with the community. My hope is that people will see the van and ask questions about how WCH is promoting population health, a good example of course being the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program.”

It appears that this outreach effort may be working. Sandy Peaslee who drives the van said an older gentleman told her recently that due to health issues he has had to change his diet and increase his physical activity. He said he wishes 5-2-1-0 had been around when he was a kid so he would have been doing what he is doing now when he was younger.

 

 

 

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