MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Over the weekend, two MHMMC care team members received one of the highest honors in nursing. Devin Carr, the Chief Nursing Officer of MaineHealth’s Southern Region, and Valerie Fuller, President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and a Nurse Practitioner at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland in the Department of Surgery, were inducted as American Academy of Nursing Fellows at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in Washington D.C. Congratulations, Devin and Valerie!

A patient in MHMMC Sanford’s Behavioral Health Unit nominated their nurse, Nikki, for a DAISY Award for the care she provided during a challenging time. In their nomination, the patient recalled feeling frightened and overwhelmed in the early stages of their hospitalization and shared how Nikki helped them adjust: “I was very scared and unsure of what was happening. Nikki helped me to understand and promised she would be there for me as best she could. She absolutely fulfilled that promise. She stayed 2 hours past her shift to ensure everything was good before she went home. I want to thank her so much for being there and for being so kind and caring.” The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to recognize and honor the compassionate care nurses provide every day to the patients they serve. It is celebrated in over 5,400 healthcare facilities and nursing schools in 34 countries. Congratulations, Nikki!

Sarah, a nurse educator in MHMMC Biddeford’s Intensive Care Unit, is MHMMC Biddeford/Sanford’s first Nurse Educator DAISY Award recipient. She received the award during Nursing Professional Development Week in September. Sarah was nominated by a colleague who emphasized her generosity and passion for education. Over the past year, Sarah has supported Biddeford’s Nursing Float Team and has helped develop an emergency department training program for float nurses. Sarah’s nominator explained that her skills shine in every setting, from program development to the annual skills fair, where her creativity and engaging style made the event an interactive and energizing experience for the care team. “Her innovative ideas and engaging presentation style helped transform the event into a dynamic and interactive learning experience,” her nominator wrote. “She ensured that the content was both educational and enjoyable, fostering enthusiasm and participation. Sarah’s leadership, generosity and passion for education make her a standout educator and a true asset to our organization.” The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to recognize and honor the compassionate care nurses provide every day to the patients they serve. It is celebrated in over 5,400 healthcare facilities and nursing schools in 34 countries. Congratulations, Sarah!

Angela, a clinical nurse educator in MHMMC Portland’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), has earned a Nurse Educator DAISY Award for her dedication to developing nurses within and beyond MaineHealth. Angela’s nominator praised her exceptional teaching skills, her ability to adapt to different learning styles and her one-on-one support for nurses. Her impact beyond Portland’s NICU was also highlighted: “Angela’s passion for education has led her to share her work beyond MHMMC — disseminating her NICU-focused educational projects at both national and global levels. Angela’s blend of clinical excellence, compassionate teaching and visionary leadership makes her an extraordinary educator and mentor. She is deeply deserving of the DAISY Award, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her.” The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to recognize and honor the compassionate care nurses provide every day to the patients they serve. It is celebrated in over 5,400 healthcare facilities and nursing schools in 34 countries. Congratulations, Angela!

Jamie, a registered nurse at MHMMC Biddeford’s Family Birth Center, has earned a DAISY Award for her patient-centered care of a patient in labor. The patient praised Jamie’s perceptiveness, knowing when to offer space and when to provide encouragement. She said Jamie took time to listen and respond to the family’s concerns with empathy and clarity: “Jamie truly listened to our input and did not imbue us with any sense of guilt or shame. When we declined certain standard medical interventions, she was able to educate us on why these interventions were recommended. She was able to listen to our reasons. She carried herself with confidence and proficiency that allowed us to trust her guidance.” The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses was created to recognize and honor the compassionate care nurses provide every day to the patients they serve. It is celebrated in over 5,400 healthcare facilities and nursing schools in 34 countries. Congratulations, Jamie!

We recently hit the $1 MILLION FUNDRAISING MILESTONE with our Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital specialty license plate! To date, the BBCH specialty license plate has raised $1,050,880 for the children’s hospital since its release to the public on October 1, 2018. The MHBBCH Philanthropy team, along with volunteers led by the Westrich family and a very determined MHBBCH patient named Collin, dedicated two and a half years to pre-registering Mainers for the specialty license plate. In January 2018, MHBBCH leaders, patient families and volunteers traveled to the statehouse to present our 2,000 registrants to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and provide testimony in support of the plate. We celebrated when the BBCH specialty license plate was signed into law and released to the public in October 2018. Today, there are more than 17,000 BBCH plates on the road in Maine. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of MHBBCH, we want to express our gratitude to the Westrich family, Collin and all our volunteers who contributed to the creation of the BBCH specialty license plate. Their efforts have helped establish a legacy of ongoing philanthropic support for Maine’s only full-service children’s hospital for generations to come. Thank you, #TeamBBCH! 💙

Letting go isn’t easy when your loved one is in the care of others. Mackenzie, a CNA at MHMMC Biddeford, has earned a PETAL Award for reassuring a patient’s daughter that her mother was in good hands. The daughter, who nominated Mackenzie, said that the care Mackenzie provided brought her peace of mind at a challenging time: “From the moment Mackenzie came in the room, my mother was met with kindness, joy and excitement. Makenzie was fulfilling a higher purpose of cultivating an environment of peace, comfort, healing and unconditional support. She gave me safety in feeling if I had to step away, I knew my mother would be cared for. She is an outstanding nurse assistant and deserved the upmost praise.” The PETAL Award recognizes, rewards and celebrates the special skills and compassionate care provided by our nursing support staff. Congratulations, Mackenzie!

Katie, a nurse on MHMMC Biddeford’s MS4 unit, has been awarded a DAISY Award for the exceptional care she provided a patient while teaching a medical student. Katie was nominated by the patient’s child, who noted Katie was extremely knowledgeable and personable to both their mother and the student. Her nominator emphasized that Katie never lost sight of her patient’s needs: “She taught a medical student seemingly effortlessly while simultaneously listening to our medical questions and answering thoroughly, also providing my mother with gentle physical care and maintaining my mother’s dignity. She centers the patient in every conversation about their care and makes sure they never loose personhood even under the most challenging circumstances.” The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to recognize and honor the compassionate care nurses provide every day to the patients they serve. It is celebrated in over 5,400 healthcare facilities and nursing schools in 34 countries. Congratulations, Katie!

“Children need and deserve the very best care possible, and they will find it here.” – Barbara Bush, 1995 Today marks 30 years since the founding of MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Named in honor of First Lady Barbara Bush for her lifelong dedication to children and families, the hospital has become a place of trust, healing and world-class care for young patients across Maine and northern New England. It takes a community to create and sustain a children’s hospital, and for three decades, that support has helped carry forward Mrs. Bush’s vision and legacy. We invite you to watch this video reflecting on 30 years of compassion, excellence and the lasting impact of MHBBCH. 🪁 📽️: https://lnkd.in/eMy2-xS7 Cre8iv Co. #TeamBBCH #pediatrics #philanthropy #cmnhospitals

What a day! ⛳ 372 golfers across 93 foursomes raised an incredible $291,295 (net!) for MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at the 34th annual BBCH Open! Special thanks to our top sponsors, Maine Beer Company and TD Bank, and to every golfer, sponsor, volunteer and supporter who made this possible. Your generosity continues to make a lasting impact for kids across Maine and beyond. And a shoutout to three-year-old Henry, who wowed the crowd with an impressive tee-off to start the tournament! 🏌️ Here’s to another amazing year of golf, community, and giving back. #TeamBBCH #BBCHOpen #TheWoodlandsClub #ProutsNeckCountryClub #BoothbayHarborCountryClub