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About Maine CHNA
Who we are
The Maine Shared CHNA (MSCHNA) began as the OneMaine Health Collaborative in 2007 as a partnership between MaineGeneral Health (MGH), MaineHealth (MH), and Northern Light Health (NLH-then known as Eastern Maine Healthcare System, or EMHS). After conversations with the Statewide Coordinating Council for Public Health, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) joined the collaborative in 2012. The effort was then named the Maine Shared Health Needs Assessment and Planning Process (SHNAPP). Central Maine Healthcare (CMHC) joined the group in 2013. In 2014, CMHC, Maine CDC, MGH, MH and NLH signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding and drafted the first Charter to guide the collaborative. In 2017, the name was changed to the Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment. The Memorandum of Understanding was updated in 2019. In 2023, the Maine Community Action Partnership (MeCAP) joined the collaborative. The Memorandum of Understanding and Charter were most recently updated in October 2023 and November 2023 respectively.

What we do
The MSCHNA coordinates a collaborative state wide health assessments. By doing this together, we avoid duplicating our efforts while fostering collaborative partnerships. The MSCHNA reports provide up-to-date health information at the state, county, urban, and sub-population levels. This effort satisfies the need for all tax-exempt hospitals to do periodic needs assessments in order to meet federal community benefit requirements; supports state and local public health department’s national public health accreditation requirements; and provides valuable population health assessment data for a wide variety of organizations across Maine.
Funding for the Maine Shared CHNA is provided by the partnering healthcare systems with generous in-kind support from the Maine CDC. Governance is provided by the Steering Committee. Countless community partners and stakeholders provide additional support by participating in either the Metrics Committee, Community Engagement Committee, Local Planning Committees, or the Data Analysis Workgroup.
Central Maine Healthcare (CMHC)
Central Maine Healthcare is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving 400,000 people living in central, western, and mid-coast Maine. CMH's hospital facilities include Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital, and Rumford Hospital. CMH also supports Central Maine Medical Group, a primary and specialty care practice organization with a presence in 17 Maine communities. Other system services include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, a regional trauma program, LifeFlight of Maine's southern Maine base, the Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, and other high quality clinical services.
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC)
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), is an office of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, whose mission is to preserve, promote, and protect the health of Maine people. Maine CDC is accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Maine CDC is responsible for participating in or conducting a State Health Assessment, which is fulfilled by the Maine Shared CHNA. Maine CDC is also responsible for collaborating with public health partners to create and implement a State Health Improvement Plan, which is informed by the Maine Shared CHNA.
Maine Community Action Partnership
Maine Community Action Partnership (MeCAP) is a statewide organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Maine citizens by advocating for, enhancing and supporting the work of Maine CAAs. Each of Maine's ten CAAs is rooted in the communities within which it serves, collectively touching the lives of approximately 140,000 clients. Each individual CAA has developed a mission statement and program focus areas specific to its organization and service area through community needs assessments. The unifying thread weaving the CAAs together is the strategic effort to improve the quality of life, health and economic circumstances of Maine's most vulnerable citizens -- specifically targeting Maine's low and very low-income people.
MaineGeneral Health (MGH)
MaineGeneral Health is an integrated, not-for-profit health care system that provides a wide range of services throughout central Maine’s Kennebec Valley. MaineGeneral opened a 192-bed, state-of-the-art hospital in Augusta — the Alfond Center for Health — in 2013. In 2014, MaineGeneral completed renovations to transform its Waterville Campus — the Thayer Center for Health — into the largest comprehensive outpatient center in the state. The health care system includes a regional cancer center; primary care and specialty physician practices; long term care facilities; rehabilitation; home health care and hospice services; specialized care for people with memory loss; and community outreach programs. MaineGeneral Health has earned recognition for achieving high levels of patient care and safety by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
MaineHealth (MH)
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.” It consists of nine local health systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and 1,700 employed providers working together through the MaineHealth Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 employees, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. The MaineHealth system includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network, LincolnHealth, Maine Behavioral Healthcare, MaineHealth Care at Home, Maine Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Mid Coast–Parkview Health, NorDx, Pen Bay Medical Center, Waldo County General Hospital, Southern Maine Health Care, Spring Harbor Hospital and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care. MaineHealth Affiliates include Maine General Health, New England Rehabilitation Hospital and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization. Several of MaineHealth’s community hospitals have been recognized by The Leapfrog Group as Top Rural Hospitals. Additionally, The Leapfrog Group has given Hospital Safety “A” Grades to Maine Medical Center, Southern Maine Health Care and Mid Coast–Parkview Health for spring 2022. Our Maine hospitals are all Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network Gold Star Standard of Excellence recipients at the Platinum level. Accreditation from The Joint Commission and inclusions in Becker’s Hospital Review and U.S. News and World Report round out our recognition from leaders in U.S. health care evaluation
Northern Light Health (NLH)
Northern Light Health is building a better approach to healthcare because they believe people deserve access to care that works for them. As an integrated health delivery system serving Maine, they are raising the bar with no-nonsense solutions that are leading the way to a healthier future for the state. Their more than 12,000 team members—in their hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, long-term and home healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and ground and air medical transport and emergency care—are committed to making healthcare work for you: patients, communities, and employees. Northern Light Health member hospitals include: Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC), Northern Light Mercy, Northern Light Acadia, Northern Light AR Gould, Northern Light Inland, Northern Light Sebasticook Valley, Northern Light Mayo, Northern Light CA Dean, Northern Light Maine Coast and Northern Light Blue Hill. Northern Light Health’s clinical services also include Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, and Northern Light Beacon Health, a population health member and leader in data analytics—supporting care teams across Maine and their goal of helping patients live their healthiest lives.
Committee Structure
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is made up representatives from the partnering healthcare systems and the Maine CDC. Together, they provide leadership for the creation of an efficient, integrated, and sustainable process to conduct triennial CHNAs and subsequent public health improvement plans and hospital implementation strategies. This committee communicates with CEOs and leadership from their respective organizations on the status of the Maine Shared CHNA activities. Additionally, this group oversees the work of the Maine Shared CHNA Program Manager. Two committees report to the Steering Committee: the Metrics and the Community Engagement Committees.
Name | Affiliation |
---|---|
Corrie Brown | Central Maine Healthcare |
Nancy Birkhimer | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
Alex Sydnor | MaineGeneral Health |
Dora Anne Mills | MaineHealth |
Tim Cowan | MaineHealth |
Doug Michael | Northern Light Health |
Heather Drake | Maine Shared CHNA |
Jamie Chandler | Maine Community Action Partnership |
Metrics Committee
The Metrics Committee is charged with updating the common set of health indicators; developing the preliminary data analysis plan (to identify scope of work for Maine CDC and Maine Shared CHNA vendor); reviewing best practices and research to ensure that indicators on emerging health issues are identified as needed; making recommendations for annual data-related activities and estimating projected costs associated with these recommendations. Members of the Metrics Committee share their expertise with the group to create processes and deliverables for the Steering Committee to review and approve. Members of the Metrics Committee include representatives of the Steering Committee, public health system partners, Federally Qualified Health Centers, academia, non-profits and others with experience in epidemiology.
Name | Agency |
---|---|
Erin Guay | Central Maine Healthcare |
Patty Hamilton | City of Bangor |
Hayley Prevatt | City of Portland |
Shawn Yardley | Community Concepts |
Maria Donahue | Healthy Acadia |
Nancy Birkhimer | Maine CDC |
Helen Hemminger | Maine Children's Alliance/Kids Count |
Charles Dwyer | Maine Health Access Foundation |
Daniel Feldman | MaineGeneral Health |
Tim Cowan | MaineHealth |
Heather Drake | ME Shared CHNA |
Merica Tripp | MeCDC Rural Health and Primare Care |
Nathan Morse | MeCDC Rural Health and Primare Care |
Erika Lichter | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Sara Huston | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Jean Mellett | Northern Light Health |
Jose Alicea-Santiago | Northern Light Health |
Toho Soma | University of New England |
Ted Trainer | York District Coordinating Council |
As of May 30, 2020
Health Equity/Community Engagement Committee
The Health Equity/Community Engagement Committee is charged with making recommendations for approval by the Steering Committee outlining a consistent and robust community engagement process. This process should outline a method of: disseminating Shared CHNA state and county-level results; identifying priorities among significant health issues; and identifying local, regional, or statewide assets and resources that may potentially address the significant health needs identified. The Community Engagement process should also yield valuable qualitative data. Members of the Community Engagement Committee share their expertise with the group to create processes and deliverables for the Steering Committee to review and approve. Members of the Community Engagement committee include representatives of the Steering Committee, public health system partners, Federally Qualified Health Centers, academia, and Maine non-profits such as United Ways, Community Action Programs, and others with an interest in broad community representation and input.
Name | Agency |
---|---|
Awa Conteh | Bangor PH housing and homeless |
Inza Ouattara | Catholic Charities Maine |
Kim Moody | Disability Rights Maine |
Leana Amaez | Diversity Equity, and Inclusion, DHHS |
Holly Lasagna | Healthy Androscoggin |
Joshua D'Alessio | Hope House/Penobscot Community Healthcare |
Mohamud Barre | Maine Access Immigrant Network |
Sarah Lewis | Maine Access Immigrant Network |
Stacy Boucher | Maine CDC, Aroostook Public Health District |
Paula Thomson | Maine CDC, Central Public Health District |
Kristine Jenkins | Maine CDC, Cumberland Public Health District |
Al May | Maine CDC, Downest Public Health District |
Drexell White | Maine CDC, Midcoast Public Health District |
Jessica Fogg | Maine CDC, Penquis Public Health District |
Jamie Paul | Maine CDC, Western Public Health District |
Adam Hartwig | Maine CDC, York Public Health District |
Nancy Birkhimer | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
Charles Dwyer | Maine Health Access Foundation |
Ben Hummel | Maine Mobile |
Heather Drake | Maine Shared CHNA |
Anne Conners | MaineGeneral Health |
Ellen Freedman | MaineHealth |
Melinda Thomas | New England Arab American Organization |
Zoe Sahloul | New England Arab American Organization |
Abdulkerim Said | New Mainers PH Initiative |
Nicole Hammar | Northern Light Health |
Nelida Berke | Portland Minority Health Program |
Toho Soma | University of New England |
As of July 30, 2020
Local Planning Committees
In addition to the state-level Community Engagement committee, local community engagement committees are formed to guide the logistics of community forums and events within each District. In some cases, County-level committees within public health districts have formed to do this work.
If you wish to join the effort or ensure you are kept informed of our progress please contact a Local Community Engagement Planning Committee near you.
Data Analysis Workgroup
The Data Analysis Workgroup took the set of indicators and the data analysis plan as laid out by the Metrics Committee and collected and analyzed the data. Members of the Data Analysis Workgroup shared their years of epidemiological and data analysis experience and knowledge of best practices to inform all aspects of the final health profiles at the county, public health district, urban, and state level. This included not only the data analysis but recommendations on best practices for data presentation and visualization.
Name | Organization |
---|---|
Anne Rogers | Maine CDC |
Bobbie Johnson | Maine CDC |
Carolyn Bancroft | Maine CDC |
Jessica Shimanski | Maine CDC |
Kim Haggan | Maine CDC |
Korey Pow | Maine CDC |
Mary Caron | Maine CDC |
Meghan McAlary | Maine CDC |
Melissa Damren | Maine CDC |
Melissa Thorton | Maine CDC |
Nancy Birkhimer | Maine CDC |
Sara Robinson | Maine CDC |
Sarah Wilcox | Maine CDC |
Reid Plimpton | Maine CDC |
J Shiminski | Maine Immunization Program |
Heather Drake | Maine Shared CHNA |
Tim Diomedes | Maine State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup |
Candace Walsh | Market Decisions Research |
John Charles | Market Decisions Research |
Patrick Madden | Market Decisions Research |
Alison Green-Parsons | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Caitlin Pizzonia | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Cindy Mervis | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Denise Yob | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Erika Lichter | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Finn Teach | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Fleur Hopper | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Kathy Decker | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Pamela Albert | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Sara Huston | MeCDC/USM Muskie School of Public Service |
Tim Cowan | MaineHealth |
K Decker | Maine Tracking Network |
As of July 16, 2021
For more information, contact:
Heather Drake, Program Manager
Maine Shared CHNA
info@mainechna.org