MaineHealth Innovation is celebrating two years of supporting care team members throughout the health system who have developed novel solutions to unmet care needs in their communities. “The Spark: Celebrating Innovation at MaineHealth,” a virtual celebration on Wednesday, June 8, from 3:30 – 5 p.m., will feature a series of panel discussions examining how MaineHealth teams are developing ideas to shape the future of health care in areas such as emergency medicine, primary care, pediatrics, women’s health and the patient experience.

“Innovation takes many forms and can come from anywhere,” said Susan Ahern, vice president of Innovation at MaineHealth, in a news release. “Care team members have had ideas ranging from a reimagined patient gown to devices aimed at improving surgical outcomes to the creation of local workforce development programs. We’re excited to share their stories and inspire more creative thinkers.”

MaineHealth Innovation helps care team members turn their ideas into products, services or care models in a variety of ways. Programs such as the Innovation Cohort guide healthcare professionals through innovation science and help develop the necessary skills to engage in user discovery, prototyping and intellectual property considerations.

The Innovation team also provides innovators with business expertise and connections through its intellectual property and business development committees, and provides financial support through its $20,000 Ignite and $100,000 Bonfire funds.

“Innovation is critical to our ability to transform care and fulfil our vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” said MaineHealth CEO Andy Mueller, MD. “I have been excited to see how the culture of innovation has grown at MaineHealth over these past two years.”

MaineHealth innovators filed 11 patents and launched five programs in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, MaineHealth invested $337,000 in innovation projects and helped care team members secure $93,000 in external funds during that time.

“The Spark: Celebrating Innovation at MaineHealth” is a free event, but registration is required. Click here to register or to learn more.

About MaineHealth:

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. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. MaineHealth Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland.