COVID Chronicle

Maine’s Healthcare Systems Soon after the emergency declarations, Northern Light Health began working with MaineHealth and the Maine Hospital Association to develop clinical protocols for patients who were discharged from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities. Many nursing homes were closed to hospital admissions and other nursing facilities had significant variation in admission standards for COVID-19 patients. The hospital transfer protocols approved by MaineHealth and Northern Light Health were then accepted by the Maine Hospital Association and distributed to hospitals throughout the state. Consistency in hospital transfer protocols for patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities has improved the ability of nursing homes to accept new patients during the pandemic. Northern Light Health also worked with the Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman to facilitate weekly conference calls with leaders from the Maine Health Care Association, the Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine, and MHA. All worked collaboratively to address the many challenges experienced during the pandemic. WE ’ RE IN THI S TOGETHER

“I am proud of the collaborative work we were able to do with our

friends at MaineHealth. While seen as competitors, we came together for the greater good to care for Maine people. We have collaborated on the initial response to COVID-19 in our state, worked together assisting nursing facilities with outbreaks, and with the help of other health systems in the state, developed statewide strategies for the management and treatment of Mainers infected with this virus. These efforts continue.” – James Jarvis, MD

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