CMH, Spectrum Join to Offer More Convenience, Affordability
Mainers’ access to affordable, convenient and high-quality orthopedic care will increase with a new relationship between Central Maine Healthcare and Central Maine Orthopedics, a member of Spectrum Healthcare Partners, CMH announced Oct. 29.
The agreement, reached last month, allows increased capacity for Spectrum’s Central Maine Orthopedics practice in Auburn, whose providers already offer orthopedic care at Central Maine Medical Center and across the Central Maine Healthcare network, and supports the existing ambulatory surgical center at the Auburn location. The comprehensive orthopedic partnership will better integrate existing capabilities, such as the ambulatory surgical center and CMH’s mobile MRI, and leverage them to increase access and lower the cost of orthopedic care.
“We’re delighted to make best-in-class orthopedics available to more patients in a more convenient and affordable way,” said Ryan McKeown, vice president for strategy and managed care at CMH. “In Maine, we have seen an increased need for orthopedic care, particularly joint replacements and minor surgery. This agreement boosts our ability to provide that care—in more locations than simply our traditional hospital setting.”
The announcement came soon after Central Maine Medical Center was certified for the quality of its orthopedic care. That certification by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest healthcare accrediting body, highlighted total hip replacement, total knee replacement, total shoulder replacement, and hip fracture, after a vigorous inspection by the Joint Commission last month.
In fact, a reviewer from the Joint Commission called the CMMC orthopedic program a “top tier program in the nation.” More than 1 million total joint replacements, which are considered one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions in medicine, are done in the United States every year. At Central Maine Medical Center, 181 total hip replacements, 316 knee replacements, and 45 shoulder replacements were done in 2017. The hospital treated 162 hip fractures.
“We are excited to see these types of collaborations between health systems and other healthcare partners that focus on delivering high-value healthcare,” said Peter Hayes, president and CEO of the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, a nonprofit supporting private employers and public trusts. “In recent conversations with both CMH and Spectrum, both organizations communicated that they are working hard to offer affordable, high-quality services, and that is exactly what purchasers want to see happening in our state. The Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine is looking forward to seeing this collaboration benefit patients and employers alike.
The Central Maine Orthopedics practice and ambulatory surgical center in Auburn has partnered with CMH’s new mobile MRI network to offer patients from Central Maine to the Midcoast area services that are more affordable and accessible than in-hospital care. The mobile MRI provides outpatient imaging services at CMH’s Topsham Care Center and will soon expand to Auburn at CMO’s Minot Avenue location. It also serves Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals on a rotating schedule.
“Central Maine Orthopedics has had over 30 years of partnership with Central Maine Healthcare. We are committed to our communities and look forward to expanding our partnership to continue to provide high quality and high value care for the patients in our region,” said Dr. Matthew Bush, Managing Director of Spectrum’s Central Maine Orthopedics’ practice.