Recognition

Mid Coast Hospital, Mid Coast Senior Health Center, and CHANS Home Health Care employees were recognized in July for years of service during two receptions, when almost 200 individuals were presented with awards celebrating milestone service anniversaries in 5-year increments. Among the award recipients was Chris Corriveau, RN, BSN, CHPN, celebrating 35 years of service. As the director of hospice for CHANS Home Health Care, Corriveau provides leadership for end-of-life and hospice care across the Mid Coast–Parkview Health system. She was recognized for being “a true advocate for hospice care patients” and her “dedication to CHANS and the nursing profession.”

Gayle Hays, RN, with Mid Coast Hospital Information Services, was the most tenured employee recognized. When asked what she enjoys about working at Mid Coast she replied, “I have worked here for 45 years because the environment is professional, yet warm and family-like; the standards and quality are high; all staff members are valued for their individual contribution; and most importantly, patients always comes first.”

Mergers

Northeast Credit Union and Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union jointly announced in late July that the two financial institutions plan to merge, subject to regulatory and other approvals. The merger will create one of the top credit unions in the Northeast, serving approximately 124,000 members. The combined institution will have 20 branches, with locations stretching from New Hampshire’s great north woods, and expanding into Southern Maine.

In the face of declining resources and crisis level need, Maine’s two largest behavioral health membership organizations – The Maine Association of Mental Health Services and the Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs have merged to form the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, Maine.

Representing over 30 provider organizations, the merger will create the largest member organization meeting the needs of people who live with substance use disorders and/or mental health diagnoses. Heading up the new organization will be Malory Shaughnessy, former Cumberland County commissioner and longtime public health advocate. Shaughnessy serves on the Board of Visitors and the Master of Public Health Advisory Committee for the Muskie School. Most recently working in outreach and education regarding the Affordable Care Act, Shaughnessy has also held leadership positions on the Board of the Opportunity Alliance, the Cumberland District Public Health Coordinating Committee, and the State Sentencing and Corrections Practices Council.

“This merger is driven by members with the commitment, expertise and vision to meet the challenges head on as they collaborate and innovate in an environment sensitized to the significant mental health and addiction issues facing our state,” said Shaughnessy.

The new website, www.AAMHSM.org, will be online Sept. 1.

Transitions

WMTW’s Meghan Torjussen will join the new early evening news team of Tracy Sabol, Steve Minich and Chief Meteorologist Roger Griswold when Maine’s Total Weather & News begins its first broadcast at 4 p.m. Sept. 6. “With the addition of our new 4 p.m. newscast, we will be first in the evening with everything you need to know,” Griswold said.

Hires, promotions, appointments

Maine Medical Partners, a department of Maine Medical Center in Portland, announces that five new physicians have joined the practice: Jennifer B. Monti, Emily Zarookian, Matthew Buttarazzi, Timothy Botler and John Walker.

MaineHealth has tapped a veteran chief information officer to lead the Maine organization’s system-wide information technology efforts. Marcy Dunn, senior vice president and chief information officer at Catholic Health Services of Long Island in Melville, New York, will join MaineHealth this fall. She replaces Andrew Crowder, who left in January to take a role with a health care system in California.

After a nationwide search, The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development  Board of Directors has hired Thomas G. Rainey as the organization’s new executive director. Rainey’s background includes over 20 years in technology-based economic development and entrepreneurship. He will start the position Sept. 6, with the objectives of refining the quality of MCED’s current programs such as Top Gun and creating entrepreneurial programs for rural participants.

Jacqueline Katz, director of clinical services for CHANS Home Health Care and Chris Corriveau, director of hospice at CHANS Home Health Care celebrate at the Mid Coast-Parkview Health Recognition Tea.

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