FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Applications are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team. Proposed projects are evaluated against core and additional criteria.
Core Criteria:
- Need: Does this novel solution address an unmet care need?
- Approach: How is this solution novel or innovative?
- Benefit: How does this novel solution impact more than one of the MaineHealth strategic priorities of patients, people, population and value?
- Competition: Does this novel solution exist within a larger commercial market or within the MaineHealth system? If so, how is this solution different?
- Team + Expertise: Is there a passionate and engaged team supporting this novel solution? Is there a MaineHealth champion associated with the team? Does this team have the right expertise or can they identify the expertise needed to build a stronger team?
Additional Criteria:
- Market and Size of Opportunity: What market(s) could benefit from this novel solution and/or what is the size of the opportunity to impact MaineHealth and its communities?
- Commercialization and/or Scalability Potential: Is there potential for the commercialization of this novel solution? Is there potential for this novel solution to be scaled across the MaineHealth system?
- Follow-On Funding: How might the novel solution generate additional external or departmental follow-on funding after the program period?
- Cost Savings: How might this novel solution create cost savings
for the MaineHealth system? - Workforce Development: How might this novel solution advance the professional and/or career development of its team members?
- Community Economic Impact: How might this novel solution have a positive impact on the economic growth and development of our community?
- Diversity, Equity + Inclusion: How might this novel solution advance MaineHealth DEI strategies?
- Scholarly Activity: How might this novel solution be disseminated through publications and or/research?
- Departmental Support: Does the team have the support of their immediate MaineHealth department leaders to work on this novel solution?
Review Process:
- MaineHealth Innovation Team and multi-disciplinary review committee will review applications based on the criteria above
- Selected applicants will be asked to interview with the Innovation team to ensure projects align with the Cohort experience
You may include some budget information in your application.
Each Innovation Cohort usually includes 4-6 projects. Some projects are led by a single innovator, while other projects have a project team of several innovators.
The Innovation Cohort is offered to all care team members across the MaineHealth system, so we expect to receive many applications.
The bi-weekly meetings are intended to help you and other Innovation Cohort project teams talk through project needs. The bi-weekly meetings will review innovation science, user discovery, prototyping, and intellectual property considerations. Guest speakers may include alumni from previous Cohorts to provide lessons learned and best practices, as well as experts in prototyping and intellectual property.
PAST PROJECTS
PEGE: Hands-On PEG tube model & education tool
Chelsea Hardy, MS, RD, LD – Clinical Bariatric Dietitian, Southern Maine Health Care
Year Round Wellness: use of virtual chat to help pediatric patients grow up healthy
Charlotte Helvie, MD – Pediatrician, Memorial Hospital
Histology Transport Container Insert
Sue LaPierre – BioBank Scientific Manager, Maine Medical Center
Public Animated Video Campaign to Increase Mental Health Literacy
Hannah Burley, MD – Psychiatrist, Maine Medical Center
Community-Based Biometric Devices for Diabetic Patients (1st project)
EPIC Post-operative Scheduling Assistant for Patients with Limb Loss (2nd project)
Benjamin Branch, DO – Associate Medical Director, Maine Medical Partners Neurosurgery and Spine
Distraction Technology to Enhance the Experience for Children and Adolescents Receiving Outpatient Pediatric Infusion Care in the Maine Children’s Cancer Program
Aaron Weiss, DO – Medical Director, Maine Children’s Cancer’ Program
Tracie Barbour, CHSOS – Simulation Specialist, Maine Medical Center
Chris DiLisio – Simulation Specialist, Maine Medical Center
Project: Refined Pessary Implant for Simulation Training
Jeremy Lott, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Hydraulic manifold system for the distribution of contrast, saline, and other media
Larry Marcus, MD, MS – Otolaryngologist, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Telehealth ENT Consult Device
Malvina Gregory – Director of Interpreter & Cross Cultural Services, Maine Medical Center
Nathaniel Meyer – medical student, Maine Medical Center
Alexander Schin – medical student, Maine Medical Center
Project: Access Avatars: imaginary, diverse, and intersectional personas
Janet Moore, RN – Nurse, Midcoast Hospital
Karleen Smat, RN – Nurse, Midcoast Hospital
Bethany Sweet, CCLS – Child Life Specialist, Maine Medical Center
Project: 3D-Printed “Port-a-Catheter” for Patient Education
Michael Zubrow, MD – Pediatrician, Maine Medical Center
Point of Care Ultrasound Tele-Training
Lauren Boehm, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Food sodium tester
Sara Cox, CNRN – Neuroscience Patient Navigator, Maine Medical Center
Project: NewGown™
Will Connolly, RN – Trauma Nurse, Maine Medical Center
Project: Suction device to clear patient airways
Alex Gingrich – Director of Nutrition Services, Maine Behavioral Healthcare
Project: MaineHealth food truck/mobile food pantry
Nancijean Goudey, RN, MPH – Nursing Director, Maine Medical Center
Project: Anti-strangulation undergarment
Mary Ottolini, MD, MEd, MPH – George W. Hallett Chair of Pediatrics, Maine Medical Center
Michael Ferguson, MD – Pediatric Intensivist, Maine Medical Center
Project: Neonatal Resuscitation Training Simulation w/ Augmented Reality
Kyle Reed – Respiratory Therapist Supervisor, Maine Medical Center
Project: Improved facility for end of life care
Zach Tillett, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Blue light app to mitigate brain injury
Jeffrey Halter, MD – Pediatric Surgeon, Maine Medical Center
Project: Clip to Close Gastrocutaneous Fistulas
Peter Klausmeyer, DPT – Physical Therapist, Waldo County General Hospital
Project: Hydraulic Walker to Go Up Stairs
Obieze Nwanna-Nzewunwa, MD, MS – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: See and Treat Cervical Cancer with Low Cost Device
Susan Speckhart, MD – Hematology Oncology Physician, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Cancer Survivors
Theodore Wissink, MD – Family Medicine Physician, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Group Visit
Alexa Craig, MD – Neonatal Neurologist, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Oral device for infants
Christopher Turner, MD – Pediatric Surgeon, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Visual Surgical Education
Damien Carter, MD – Critical Care Surgeon, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Fish Skin for Temporary Burn Coverage
Daniel Hussey, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Customization of Ostomy Applications
David Kispert, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Needle to Reduce Infection IV Drug User
Heidi Morin, RN, MSN, MBA – Nursing Director, Maine Medical Center
Project: Staffing to Match Patient Acuity in Birthing Centers
Jay Vance, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Aortic Snorkel Clamp to Reduce AKI in Vascular Surgery
Jennifer Monti, MD – Cardiologist, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Catheter for Arrhythmia Treatment
Meagan Hall, LCSW – Social Worker, Maine Medical Center
Project: CF Social Network
Michael Robich, MD, MSPH – Cardiac Surgeon, Maine Medical Partners
Project: Trocar for Chest Tube Placement
Robert Smith, MD – Infectious Disease Specialist, Maine Medical Center
Susan Elias, MS, PhD – Staff Scientist, MaineHealth Institute for Research
Project: Web-based tick forecasting tool
Sean Lena, DO – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Katherine Rizzolo, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Map network of services for New American
Sean Novak, MD – Radiologist, Maine Medical Center
Project: 3D Pulmonary Nodule Tracking
Verity Ramirez, MD – Resident, Maine Medical Center
Project: Food Genome Project