VNA Home Health & Hospice Northern Light Home Care & Hospice

Please see the following excerpt from the Northern Light Health Annual Report 2023 to the Community for details of community benefit projects at NLH members:Northern Light HealthAnnual Report 2023HOW ARE YOU?How are you is a simple question that we ask many times throughout the day, but its also a question that goes beyond conversation, an expression of genuine care and interest in the wellbeing of others. Its a foundation of the deeper, more meaningful relationships we build with our employees, patients, community members, and others. We hope this annual report illustrates how this question, while at the heart of our character, is one of the ways we guide our patients and their families through the healthcare experience. This year, we highlight ways our incredible employees and community partners work together to ensure we are making healthcare work for all people in Maine. From a nurse who provides healing care in the hospital and nourishing food in a restaurant, to helping community members combat opioid use disorder with Narcan training.Our commitment extends well beyond the walls of our facilities; we are training community organizations in psychological first aid and are collaborating with our local communities to promote health education and help create a healthier Maine. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated staff and community partners, and to the people of Maine who place their trust in us. We hope you take a moment to ask, How are you? and see how incorporating this simple but meaningful question into your daily interactions can positively affect our relationships and create meaningful connections.We hope you enjoy the 2023 Annual Report.Timothy J. Dentry, MBAPresident & CEONorthern Light HealthJohn RyanBoard ChairNorthern Light HealthHOW ARE YOUGOING TO SAVE A LIFE?Northern Light Healths Narcan Program: Saving Lives in Maine Andrew Mitchell found himself in a situation he never expected. He was outside a restaurant in Bangor one August afternoon in 2022 when a life changing experience convinced him of the importance of the overdose-reversing medication, Narcan. Mitchell, who received a Narcan kit at the Blue Hill Fair, was out with a friend when a woman across the street urgently called out that a man was overdosing. Quickly, Mitchell rushed to his truck, grabbed the Narcan kit, and administered the life-saving drug to the unconscious man, whose lips had turned blue. Thanks to his timely intervention, the man began to regain consciousness. Mitchell received his free Narcan kit from Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital, which has been at the forefront of addressing Maines opioid epidemic. Employees handed out these kits to the public at the Blue Hill Fair in 2022 and 2023. Mitchell shares, I had no medical training at all, and if I can use Narcan, anyone else can use it too. Its straightforward, he shares. Northern Light Healths efforts extend beyond Narcan distribution to individuals. Hospitals across the system are engaging the community in a new and meaningful way. Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield provide training to community organizations on the use of Narcan. The hospitals training programs are part of a three-year federal grant program to reduce overdose deaths in Maine. Hanna Bouchard, a community health outreach coordinator with both hospitals, plays a vital role in this program. Her experience as an emergency medical technician, coupled with her dedication to the cause has made her a key figure in providing Narcan training to community partners, including Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield. This program is not just about teaching people how to use Narcan; its about giving them the knowledge and tools to save lives, shares Bouchard. In the battle against opioid overdoses, data tells a compelling story. Maine experienced more than 700 overdose deaths in 2022, and while the numbers are alarming, Narcan is making a difference. Of the 9,394 reported non-fatal overdoses, 2,200 were reversed thanks to community members carrying Narcan. Now with Food and Drug Administration approval, this life-saving medication is available over the counter. Across Maine, the opioid crisis remains a significant challenge. These initiatives, whether distributing Narcan kits at the Blue Hill Fair or providing community trainings, are crucial steps towards reducing drug overdose deaths. These programs serve as beacons of hope, reminding us that every life is worth saving, and every intervention counts.

HOW ARE YOUSHARING YOUR CULTURE?A Journey of Nursing and NourishingIts just before 9 am when Hope Moneke and one of her daughters arrive in Veazie, a suburb of Bangor, to start cooking for their restaurant where they serve delicious African cuisine each Friday through a shared kitchen arrangement. Moneke and her family made the life-changing decision to move to Maine a decade ago, seeking new opportunities and a better life. With an innate desire to help people, Moneke went to school and became a nurse, something that was not easily accessible to her in Nigeria.Now, she works on a busy cardiac floor at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Little did Moneke know that her journey would lead to the creation of a unique blend of cultures, where her roles as a nurse and a chef would intertwine to bring joy, comfort, and a taste of home to her new community. Like many new Mainers, Moneke and her family missed the food and flavors of home. This became an opportunity for Moneke to pursue her other great passion: cooking. Growing up in Nigeria, she had honed her culinary skills, and now she had the chance to share her culture through food. Monekes flexible nursing schedule allows her to dedicate time to both her patients and her restaurant. She works three days a week at the medical center, where she finds immense fulfillment caring for patients. This role as a nurse is not just a job for Moneke; its a calling.Monekes face lights up when she describes the joy she finds in patient care and how her culinary artistry is an extension of her nurturing spirit as a nurse. I feel a deep sense of accomplishment in caring for my patients, and then being able to share my culture with this community through food, says Moneke.For Moneke, both her roles, nurse, and chef, are intertwined. She is a healer in both settings and finds great satisfaction in serving and making a difference in peoples lives.Her gift is not just about the food she serves; its about the connections she creates and the joy she brings to those whose lives she touches. Her story is a reminder that no matter where we come from, we all share the common human experience of wanting to make a difference and finding fulfillment on our journeys. Moneke has achieved just that, with a warm smile and a plate full of delicious African cuisine.People come here, and they tell me my food is delicious, and that makes me very happy, says Moneke. I feel so proud of myself that I accomplished this, and I get to make a difference in peoples lives, that is the most important thing.HOW ARE YOURSTUDIES GOING?Bringing Education to Rural CommunitiesRural hospitals play a vital role in providing essential medical services to underserved communities. However, these hospitals often face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining nurses. To understand the transformative power of innovative programs designed to attract and keep nursing talent in rural areas, look no further than the inspiring story of Danielle Craig, RN, Northern Light Mayo Hospital.Craig represents the heart and soul of rural healthcare in Maine. Her remarkable journey into the nursing profession and her unwavering commitment to serving her community highlight the positive effects of programs designed to recruit and retain nurses to rural Maine.As the mother of six children, Craig faced a unique set of challenges when considering a career in nursing. The need to balance her familys well-being with her professional aspirations was a significant concern. Rural living often comes with lengthy commutes to educational institutions and healthcare facilities, making it difficult for individuals like Craig, with a growing family, to pursue their dreams.Craigs journey took a fateful turn when she stumbled upon an ad in the Piscataquis Observer for a nursing program in Dover-Foxcroft and a distance learning program offered by Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) in Bangor, a unique program bringing education closer to home for rural residents. EMCC held the classes at the Piscataquis County Technical Center in Dover-Foxcroft. Craig recalls, I had children at home, so less time on the road meant more time with them outside of class and less need for childcare.The programs innovative approach included video conferences, allowing students to access the same instructors and the same classes available on campus, and dedicated in-classroom support from nursing professionals like Nikki Chadwick, RN, MSN, CPHQ, vice president of Quality and Education, Northern Light Mayo Hospital, who played an integral role in Craigs journey. Craig recalls, We had Nikki in the classroom to help support us, answer any questions we had, and she took us to our clinicals right in town at Mayo Hospital.For Craig, this educational opportunity was not only life-changing but also transformative for her family. She emphasizes, Before I became a nurse, we were a one-income family with six children. By providing access to education to rural communities, youre bringing those families up, and that will bring the entire community up.Umbrella Sky ProjectAre you inspired?Art inspires imagination and wonder. It takes us to new places and makes us feel curious and excited. The Umbrella Sky Project, sponsored by Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, inspired by Mary Poppins, is an outdoor art exhibit installed around the world that took over downtown Bangor in summer 2023. The display of whimsy, exuberance, energy, and maybe a little bit of protection from the rain and sun came to Cross Street, the corridor between Main Street and Columbia Street. If you missed it, dont worry; the installation returns in summer 2024. Be sure to come visit and when we ask, How are you? we hope you will reply, Practically perfect in every way!

A Vital Connection Are you monitoring your health? Northern Light Home Care & Hospice is one of the first home healthcare agencies to endorse and promote telehealth for patients who qualify. Through LiveConnected, Northern Lights telehealth program, monitors can be installed in a patients home. Our nurses train patients on how to read and record the information to monitor their condition, and the machine does the rest! More than 630 Mainers statewide use LiveConnected, including those who are not patients of Home Care & Hospice.The service uses monitoring equipment to provide daily readings of vital signs to registered nurses. The nurses work with the patient and their physician to maintain and adjust medications from the convenience of home. Each day at a pre-determined time, the machine guides the patient through the steps to monitor their health.Northern Light Home Care & Hospice uses a team approach to deliver care, educate our patients, and to better manage conditions like chronic heart and lung diseases. Often, managing chronic health conditions means frequent trips to the doctor or hospital to monitor vital signs. Using telemonitoring and offering care, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology to patients at home eliminates the stress of frequent trips and difficult access to transportation. Each Northern Light Home Care & Hospice patient receives a customized care plan that includes clinical home visits, telehealth monitoring, and education designed for the individual, allowing patients to manage their care from the comfort of home. To learn more about LiveConnected visit northernlighthealthorgliveconnect... find out if you qualify, please call 800-757-3326 to speak to a member of our Home Care & Hospice team.HOW ARE YOUAND YOUR BABY?Transforming Lives: Francis Warde Home For decades, Portland has been a destination for people seeking asylum; leaving their home countries, seeking safety and protection in a new place to call home. Sometimes, there are cracks in the social safety net for this vulnerable population, and some of the most vulnerable are pregnant women.One woman, who came to Northern Light Mercy Hospital on a cold rainy day in June, was five months pregnant, without shelter, and in dire need of care. Melissa Skahan, vice president of Mission Integration at Mercy, recounts her story, This woman was ill, had no home, and a discharge plan would potentially put her back out on the street or into another short-term shelter.Thankfully, Skahan was already working on a solution. Mercy Hospital had recently teamed up with the non-profit In Her Presence (IHP), to start a new, two-generational program for pregnant women who are seeking asylum. The new program would open soon, in the former Francis Warde Convent, a residence once owned by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and named after one of the original Sisters of Mercy.The Francis Warde Home was nearly ready to open, so instead of sending this pregnant woman back into uncertainty, hospital staff stepped in. Within 48 hours, they made a crucial decision that would change her life. Skahan adds, Our staff kept her here, and the program launch was timed so that we were able to move her quickly into Francis Warde.The Francis Warde program, as it is commonly referred to, ensures that vulnerable women in need of shelter, basic needs, and healthcare receive support. Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Francis Warde program is Claudette Ndayininahaze, the co-founder and executive director of IHP. Ndayininahaze emphasizes, We are just beginning to understand how to see the whole person and serve the whole person. The IHP approach is creating long-term community and lifelong learners who give back. We need to integrate culture and ensure a true balance of power so that women from all over the world feel empowered to shape their healthcare.The program goes beyond providing shelter and healthcare. It extends to offering educational opportunities, including English language classes and workforce training at Northern Light Mercy Hospital. The women who benefit from the program go through a remarkable transformation.In Skahans words, Its transformative. Ive seen people who have been in the program for a few months, and they look like different people than when you first meet them because their basic needs are met, and they are constantly progressing and developing.The Francis Warde Home empowers those who have experienced hardship and displacement to influence their interactions with healthcare. The model reflects the specific needs of immigrant women and their children across the continuum of care. Through this program, Mercy Hospital, in partnership with IHP, is creating a healthier, more inclusive society where vulnerable individuals can thrive. Other collaborating agencies in this endeavor include Community Housing of Maine, JTG Foundation, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and the State of Maine.Our Climate Health PledgeHow can we Improve our Planets Health?We know that climate change can translate into poorer health outcomes for people across the planet and right here in Maine. To create a healthier environment for everyone, Northern Light Health has pledged to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In 2021, we began to gather data on things like direct emissions related to our use of heating fuels, vehicles, and even anesthetic gases.We also looked at indirect emissions from our electricity usage. Weve converted to electric vehicles, built more energy efficient hospitals, and began outsourcing our electricity from more renewable sources. In year one of our pledge, weve already reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by more than ten percent! We know there is a long way to go, but were pleased that we are off to such a positive start!We have some exciting new projects planned for 2024 including improvements to our supply chain, a food waste program, and a new podcast series on climate sustainability.To learn more, visit NorthernlighthealthorgSustainabil...