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Central Maine Healthcare Recognizes Certified Nurses Day, March 19th

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“Certified Nurses Day honors nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty. A registered nurse (RN) license allows nurses to practice. Certification affirms advanced knowledge, skill, and practice to meet the challenges of modern nursing.” ANCC, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Central Maine Healthcare wants to thank the 163 Nurses who have sought this designation and for your professionalism and leadership in achieving and maintaining national board certification in your nursing specialty.

Sara Kapinos, RN, Named DAISY Award Honoree

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The DAISY Award nurse honorees at Bridgton Hospital personify remarkable patient experience. DAISY Award nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care, and they are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.

Bridgton Hospital presented its most recent DAISY Award to Sara Kapinos, RN. In the words of her peers, “No matter what type of day Sara is experiencing, she always has a smile. We are privileged to have this DAISY as an important team member of perioperative services.”

Kapinos always goes the extra mile for her patients. Her nomination story included many hours dedicated to phone calls to a patient’s provider, Hospitalists, and Gastroenterologist and coordinating an admission to ensure that the patient would be able to have a procedure.

Her flexibility to float to between units and critical thinking skills make Kapinos a great team player and positive asset to Bridgton Hospital.

As a DAISY Award Honoree, Kapinos was presented a bouquet of daisies, a DAISY certificate, a DAISY Award pin, a cross-stitch bookmark handmade by a hospital employee, and a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled A Healer’s Touch. Additionally, everyone in attendance celebrated with specially made cinnamon rolls. The significance of the cinnamon rolls is that J. Patrick Barnes especially enjoyed sharing cinnamon rolls with his nurses, and his family felt this should be a part of the ceremonies across the country.

The DAISY Foundation was established in Glen Ellen, California, in 1999 by the family of Barnes who died of complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system.) During Mr. Barnes’ eight-week hospitalization, his family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses at his hospital provided not only to him but to everyone in his family. So one of the goals they set in creating a Foundation in his memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses everywhere who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people by the superhuman work they do every day.

Zachary Mueller, D.O. Joins Central Maine Medical Center Staff

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Zachary Mueller, D.O. has joined the staff at Central Maine Medical Center located in Lewiston.

Mueller attended Bates College after which he began graduate studies at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME where he graduated as part of the first Hospitalist Track class. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

“I’m interested in general medicine and particularly in critical care because managing acutely sick patients is the most rewarding aspect of the job for me,” Mueller said. “I also feel it is important for patients and families to understand the reason why things are done. I enjoy spending a little extra time to explain the thought process behind any decision or action (testing and treatment) that is undertaken while in the hospital,” he continued.

Central Maine Medical Center and can be reached by calling 207-795-0111.

Reza Rahbar, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S., Joins Central Maine Surgical Associates

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Reza Rahbar, M.D., F.A.C.S, F.A.S.C.R.S., has joined the staff at Central Maine Surgical Associates (CMSA) located at 12 High Street, Suite 401 in Lewiston.

Rahbar completed his undergraduate studies and received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his general surgery training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School in Boston and completed his fellowship in colorectal surgery at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, La.

Rahbar comes to CMSA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he has been in academic surgery practicing colorectal surgery for the last seven years. He is board certified in both general and colorectal surgery. Rahbar is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colorectal Surgery and serves as the co-editor of the World Journal of Colorectal Surgery.

He specializes in surgery for benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum with a focus on minimally invasive surgical techniques using advanced laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, and surgical endoscopy. Within the various colorectal diseases Rahbar holds a strong interest and experience in surgical management of Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.

“Surgery really is a calling, it requires a lot of you, but if you love it like I do, it gives back so much more,” said Rahbar. “I enjoy being a sub-specialist caring for benign and malignant problems. People come to colorectal surgeons with problems they want fixed. I get to help them and in return I get to meet and care for many wonderful people.”

“I realize that what I do as a surgeon is routine work for me, however, undergoing an operation or seeing a doctor in the office is anything but routine for a patient. Remembering that every day helps me keep at my best and connect with my patients,” continued Rahbar.

Rahbar practices at Central Maine Surgical Associates in collaboration with Nina Edwards, M.D., Rajeev Puri, M.D., James Reilly, M.D., David Burke, M.D., Laura Withers, M.D., Anna Royer, M.D., Kimberly Caldwell, P.A.-C., Rebecca Gardina, P.A.-C., Kate Grygiel, P.A.-C., Rebecca Pare, F.N.P., Elizabeth Pavao, F.N.P., and Sara Reeder, P.A.-C.

Central Maine Surgical Associates is part of Central Maine Healthcare and can be reached by calling 207-795-5767.

Gillian Miller, P.A.-C. Joins Central Maine ENT Head and Neck Surgery Staff

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Gillian Miller, P.A.-C. has joined the staff at Central Maine ENT Head and Neck Surgery located at 12 High Street, Suite 102 in Lewiston.

Miller received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maine in Orono and completed her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of New England in Portland. As a recipient of the Maine Primary Care Scholarship she was able to return to her hometown of Bangor to complete her clinical training. Miller is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and The Society of Physician Assistants in Otorhinolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery.

“I chose Otolaryngology because I was looking for a new challenge. The anatomy of the head and neck is very complex, the diversity of problems that can occur in this area is intricate, and restoring function is integral to our daily living. I enjoy not only the diversity of medical problems but the diversity among my patients. In any given day I will see patients from 10 months to 90 years old,” said Miller of her new role.

Miller practices at Central Maine ENT Head and Neck Surgery in collaboration with Robyn Brown, P.A.-C., Norris Lee, M.D., and Robert Warner, D.O.

Central Maine ENT Head and Neck Surgery is part of Central Maine Healthcare and can be reached by calling 207-784-4539.

Central Maine Healthcare Welcomes New Chief Nursing Officer

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Mary-Anne Ponti has joined Central Maine Healthcare’s (CMH) senior leadership team as its Chief Nursing Officer. She started June 20.

Ponti is an important part of CMH’s strategic transformation. She will support the health system’s strategic plan by focusing on patient care and service excellence by providing direction for nursing throughout the system, including regulating credentialing and developing a nursing governance structure. Her expertise in leadership development, strategic planning and change management will help establish CMH’s nursing department strategy as the system continues to position itself as a healthcare leader and innovator in central and western Maine.

With more than 30 years of experience in nursing and healthcare executive leadership, Ponti not only understands what it takes to be a staff nurse, but also how to lead and manage staff while establishing high standards of patient care and quality of service.

“I’m excited to return to Maine and join Central Maine Healthcare’s leadership team. In healthcare, top-quality patient care begins at the bedside with nurses. I’m looking forward to guiding CMH’s nursing departments towards new levels of care and quality,” said Ponti.

Prior to CMH, Ponti provided coaching and guidance for healthcare leadership and management through her consulting business. She was also the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at McLaren Northern Michigan (MNM)where she was responsible for the overall hospital, physician practices, and ambulatory care financial performance andclinical operations. MNM served approximately 450,000 residents in rural northern Michigan.

Ponti’s hiring is part of CMH’s ongoing strategic change as the system works on strengthening its operations and patient experience and service levels as it navigates an ambiguous healthcare landscape at both the state and Federal levels.