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Central Maine Medical Center

Central Maine Healthcare hospitals achieve the 2021 Gold Star of Excellence award from Breathe Easy Maine

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CMMC, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital recognized by Breath Easy Maine for commitment to tobacco-free campuses

Congratulations to all three Central Maine Healthcare hospitals for achieving the 2021 Gold Star of Excellence award from Breathe Easy Maine, an organization dedicated to reducing smoke exposure across the state. Breathe Easy conducts the Gold Star Standards of Excellence recognition program annually to encourage and support Maine’s hospitals in addressing smoking and tobacco use by creating and maintaining smoke and tobacco-free policies. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of death and disease in this country with over 443,000 deaths per year. According to American Hospital Association, 76% of hospitals nationally have gone 100% tobacco-free.

Want to contribute to reducing smoke exposure in Maine? Take the smoke-free home pledge today and join CMH’s efforts!

https://breatheeasymaine.org/smoke-free-homes-pledge/

Central Maine Medical Center nationally recognized ‘A’-gain

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Fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grade marks seventh consecutive ‘A’ for CMMC

Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) received its seventh consecutive “A” – the highest grade possible – for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction recognizes CMMC’s success with protecting patients from harm and errors in the hospital.

“The recognition is well deserved and hard earned as we work through these challenging times in health care,” said Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, president and CEO for Central Maine Healthcare. “I am incredibly thankful for all of our team members who are continuously committed to taking excellent care of our patients, as well as each other.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

Pictured (L-R): Lorraine Theriault, Chelsea Ervin RN, Angela Dubuc RN, Kate Carpenter RN, Michelle Hosford RN, Doris Laslie RN
Not pictured from the quality team: Jennifer Wells, Nancy Murphy RN, Janice Somerville RN, Kelly LeBlond RN, CMO John Alexander MD, MHCM, FACEP

“Our seventh consecutive ‘A’ from Leapfrog is a testament to the skills and dedication of our entire team of clinicians,” said Central Maine Healthcare Chief Medical Officer John L. Alexander, MD, MHCM, FACEP. “We are proud that our commitment to providing exceptional, safe health care services for all of our patients has been consistently recognized.”

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute- care hospitals twice a year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent. The results are free to the public.

 

Central Maine Healthcare appoints Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, as system’s president and CEO

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The Board of Directors of Central Maine Healthcare announced Friday that it has appointed Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, as the health system’s president and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 10.

Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE

Dr. Littleson, who has served as CMH’s interim president and CEO since July 19, has extensive leadership experience gained over more than 35 years in the healthcare sector. He joined CMH in May 2020 as president of Central Maine Medical Center before taking on the additional role of senior vice president of operations for the health system.

“Steve is a seasoned leader with an unrelenting drive to provide the best possible care to our communities and the strategic mindset to match that pursuit,” said Board Chair Dev Culver.  “His deep experience, energy and commitment to the community and Central Maine Healthcare team members make him the ideal leader to guide the system through this period of change and beyond.”

As president and CEO, Dr. Littleson is responsible for advancing the integration of CMH as a high-quality delivery system using the skills he has garnered at numerous hospitals on the East Coast. During his time with CMH, he has led efforts that increased coordination among parts of the health system, improved performance on quality metrics, impacted workplace culture and strengthened the financial recovery from the initial waves of the pandemic. Dr. Littleson also has been guiding the development of the Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center, a $33 million facility that will open in the spring and enhance access to cutting-edge oncology services in a consolidated, convenient location.

“I am honored to be named to this position and to be entrusted to lead the exceptional team members who make Central Maine Healthcare a remarkable organization,” Dr. Littleson said. “I am inspired by working alongside team members who live the mission of providing the best care to each one of our patients every day. I can’t wait to see how much we’ll accomplish together.”

Before he joined CMH, Dr. Littleson served as regional president of Jefferson Health in Philadelphia and president of the hospitals division and chief operating officer for Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. Additionally, he has held senior roles at Meridian Health, Southern Ocean County Hospital, both in New Jersey, and Sentara Healthcare in Virginia.

A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Dr. Littleson served as an officer and chairman of the boards of the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals. He was on the boards of community service organizations including Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Rotary International, the American Red Cross and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

He continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and he has been a regular guest lecturer for the Peking University Executive MBA program in Beijing.

Dr. Littleson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gettysburg College, his master’s degree in health administration from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University and his doctorate in business administration from Walden University.

He lives in Raymond with his wife, Debra, and Old English Sheepdog, Liberty.

Central Maine Healthcare offers vaccination to 12-15 year olds

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Option available by appointment only at the Auburn Mall starting Wednesday

Youths 12 to 15 years old will be able to receive vaccine by appointment only at Central Maine Healthcare’s high-volume vaccination site at the Auburn Mall starting Wednesday, May 12.

“The authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older is exciting news. We’re delighted to be rolling out this option,” said Amy Lee, MBA, MBHA, MJ, FACMPE, vice president and chief operating officer of the Central Maine Medical Group. “It’s an important step toward defeating the virus and helping families return to the things they love, like getting together with loved ones. Kids could be fully protected for the summer activities that make it so fun to be this age.”

Vaccination is available to Maine residents and non-residents alike. Individuals should bring their identification and their insurance card, if they have one. Minors must have parental consent and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

To make an appointment or for more information about Central Maine Healthcare vaccination sites, visit cmhc.org or call Central Maine Healthcare’s COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917. Please note that for children who are 12 years old, a parent/legal guardian must contact the call center to make an appointment.

Dr. Shah of Maine CDC visits high-volume vaccination clinic opened by Central Maine Healthcare, Auburn, Lewiston and State

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1The new regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site launched by Central Maine Healthcare at the Auburn Mall had a special visitor on Saturday: 

Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Shah Auburn Mall Clinic

“Clinics like the one at the Auburn Mall help ensure that we are continually making progress on vaccinating Mainers quickly and safely,” Dr. Shah said. “Sites like this also mean Maine will be ready to ramp up vaccinations when the federal government is able to increase weekly allotments of vaccine to the State.”

Dr. Shah toured the facility with Central Maine Healthcare’s chief medical officer and met with volunteers from partner organizations and health system team members running the clinic.

“We were delighted to have Dr. Shah visit today and see our site in operation. The Maine CDC – and Dr. Shah in particular – has been incredibly supportive throughout the pandemic,” said Central Maine Healthcare Chief Medical Officer John Alexander, MD, MHCM, FACEP. “The phenomenal collaboration we have with the State and all our partners is making a huge difference for our communities.”

Dr. Shah visited the site on its third day of operations, when it had 778 appointments booked. After its ramp up, the Central Maine Healthcare-run site aims to vaccinate 1,000 people each day of operation – or 4,000 per week – as vaccine supplies allow. The site is expected to operate for six months.

The new regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site was launched by Central Maine Healthcare, the City of Auburn, the City of Lewiston and the State of Maine on Wednesday.

In addition to operating the site at the mall, partners are coordinating to ensure that vaccination efforts reach all members of the community. Central Maine Healthcare and leaders from Auburn, Lewiston and the State of Maine are working with Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency, St. Mary’s Health System, Tri-County EMS, the National Guard and the Auburn Mall.

Vaccination Appointments

Vaccination at the Central Maine Healthcare-run site at the Auburn Mall is available by appointment only. To check availability, book an appointment or find out more about high-volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917.

For information, please use this website and phone number rather than contacting the mall or the cities.

Vaccinations will take place at the Center Court of the Auburn Mall. The entrance will be through the south entrance, near Thatcher’s.

With the opening of Auburn Mall site, Central Maine Healthcare is pivoting resources from the clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to the high-volume site. Community vaccination clinics will continue at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

How to Help

Volunteers, both clinical and non-clinical, and donations, both financial and in-kind, can support COVID-19 efforts such as the high-volume site. Please visit cmhc.org/how-to-help for more information.

 

High-volume vaccination site opens amid optimism

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Site launched by Central Maine Healthcare, Auburn, Lewiston and State aims to vaccinate 1,000 people a day

The new regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site launched by Central Maine Healthcare, the City of Auburn, the City of Lewiston and the State of Maine vaccinated its first patients on Wednesday as operations began at the Auburn Mall.

“It’s been absolutely phenomenal how the community came together with determination and enthusiasm for this cause,” said Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “Together, we are amping up our vaccination efforts to protect even more Maine people from the coronavirus. It’s a wonderful day that turns the page in our fight against this pandemic.”

After its ramp up, the site aims to vaccinate 1,000 people each day of operation – or 4,000 per week – as vaccine supplies allow. The site is expected to operate for six months.

Central Maine Healthcare has so far administrated 21,028 doses of vaccine at its hospital-based vaccine clinics. The partnerships around the high-volume vaccination site extends resources to increase volume and expands the reach.

“Since the pandemic began, I have watched our community pull together to fight this thing head-on. And as a community, we have shown unity, strength and resilience,” said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque. “A strong community partnership brought this vaccination site to fruition, and that partnership will make a truly meaningful difference in people’s lives. My sincere thanks to the team at Central Maine Healthcare, to the City of Lewiston and to St. Mary’s for working to make this site possible.”

On Wednesday, the partners, community leaders and volunteers gathered at the mall to mark the site’s first day with a ribbon cutting and a tour before operations began. On the first day of operations, all 312 available appointments were filled. The number of appointments is based on vaccine availability.

“I am pleased that the residents of the LA region will now have access to this life-saving vaccine through a local high-volume vaccination site,” said Lewiston Mayor Mark A. Cayer. “It is yet another example of community partners working together for the health and well-being of our residents. I encourage folks to take advantage of this public health opportunity.”

In addition to operating the site at the mall, community partners are coordinating to ensure that vaccination efforts reach all members of the community. Central Maine Healthcare and leaders from Auburn, Lewiston and the State of Maine are working with Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency, St. Mary’s Health System, Tri-County EMS, the National Guard and the Auburn Mall.

“This high-volume community vaccination clinic helps get shots into the arms of Maine people as quickly and fairly as possible,” said Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD. “As we await more doses coming to Maine from the federal government, we stand ready to vaccinate more residents in Lewiston-Auburn, western Maine and throughout the state. We thank our partners involved in this important effort to protect the health of Maine people.”

Vaccination Appointments

Vaccination at the Central Maine Healthcare-run site at the Auburn Mall is available by appointment only. To check availability, book an appointment or find out more about high- volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917.

For information, please use this website and phone number rather than contacting the mall or the cities.

Vaccinations will take place at the Center Court of the Auburn Mall. The entrance will be through the south entrance, near Thatcher’s.

With the opening of Auburn Mall site, Central Maine Healthcare is pivoting resources from the clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to the high-volume site. Community vaccination clinics will continue at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

How to Help

Volunteers, both clinical and non-clinical, and donations, both financial and in-kind, can support COVID-19 efforts such as the high-volume site. Please visit cmhc.org/how-to-help for more information.