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
Spring 2024
Inspiring Enduring, Child-Like Curiosity: Creating an Illustrated Book for Internal Medicine Learners
Sam Woodworth, MD | MMC
Rewire Health – Mobile Culinary Medicine Education for Rural and New Mainer Populations
Lauren Ciszak, MD, Eva Weinstein, Olivia Weinstein, RDN, Marin Johnson, MS | MMC
iPACE™
Melissa Zelaya-Floyd, PhD, Alec Luro, PhD, Patricia White | MMC
Baby Warmer Rail System
Patrick Tierney, Eric Worthing, MD | LincolnHealth
Neck Saver Laptop Holder
Todd Lamoreau, PT | Mid Coast Parkview Health
Living Kidney Donor Mobile Device App for Follow-Up Tracking
Shelby McDonnell, MS, Heather Stephen, RN, Andrew Pixley, RN, BSN, Marie Simoneau, Ardyce Peters, MS, Juan Pama-Vargas, MD | MMC
Bug Bite Stickers
Shinya Amano, MD | Maine Medical Partners
MaineHealth Educational Programming Application (MEPA)
Angela Leclerc, PA, Elizabeth Herrle, MD FHM, FACP, Meredith Beauregard, MSPA, PA-C, Mark Goode, MSPA, PA-C | MMC
Fall 2024
Outpatient Support Network
Crystal Wiley, BA, BSN, RN, CLC | MaineHealth Lakes Region Primary Care
UTI Detectable Briefs
Aubrey Martin, CNA | MaineHealth Care at Home
Taking Steps to Empower Patient Mobility Using an Activity Tracker
Jillian Sweezy & Carrie Strick | MaineHealth Maine Medical Center-Portland
Point of Use Instrument Bioburden and Biofilm Reduction
Jessica Atkinson, RN, CNOR | MaineHealth Maine Medical Center-Biddeford & Sanford
A Novel, Improved, Safer PCA Pump Delivery System
Michael Nadeau, BSN | MaineHealth Maine Medical Center-Portland
Portable Rehabilitation Stairs
Kate Marchessault | MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital
Healing Hearts-Developing Self-Care Resources for Spanish Speaking Women
Victoria Hernandez | MaineHealth Maine Medical Center-Portland
Exploring Methods for Delivering Patient Quality of Life Questionnaires
Lauren Couture | MMCP Cancer Care Admin Scarborough
Progressively Virtual Patient Service Representative–Remote to AI
Robert Trim & Brandon Buck | MaineHealth Pediatric Specialty Care Portland
Expanding MaineHealth’s Music Therapy and Integrative Arts Therapy Program
Kate Beever, MA, MT-BC | MaineHealth Maine Medical Center-Portland
Spring 2023
Early Warning: Exploring risk-factors for hospital-acquired pressure injuries using the electronic medical record
Tricia Foley – Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse, Nicole Radmore – Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse, Maine Medical Center
Education for MaineHealth Care Teams Treating Alcohol Use Disorder
Richard Butler – ED Tech SMHC, Southern Maine Health Care
Creating Affordable Reliable Transportation for Patients
Elizabeth Durant – Quality, Safety and Clinical RN, Western Maine Primary Care, Brianna Walker – Lead Medical Assistant, Karen Guerette – Medical Assistant, Louanne Melanson – Lead Medical Assistant
Fall 2023
The Central Line Dressing Kit: Step-by-Step
Hannah Taylor & Kate Campbell – Staff Development Specialists, Southern Maine Health Care
Percutaneous Nephrostomy Program (including Intro Kit)
Allison Schmidt MSN, RN, Peter Igneri – PA-C, Chief Interventional Radiology PA, Allison Sanford BS – RT(R)(VI), Interventional Radiology Manager, & Kelly Ernst PA-C -Lead PA – Urology, Maine Medical Center
Developing Cultural Humility in the ED through a Simulated Experience for Interprofessional Learners in the Health Professions
Sara Nelson MD, Madeleine Puissant MD, Tania Strout RN, PhD – Director and Vice Chair ED Research, Isha Agarwal MD, Jeff Holmes MD, Malvina Gregory Director, Marin Johnson Director, Irit Altman, Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator, Maine Medical Center
Reducing Waste Through Recycling
Rebecca Brown, RNCM, CMSRN, CYT – Care Manager, Maine Medical Center
WellCal – An in-room display that syncs with medical records to provide live updates on a patient’s care
Liam John MD – First Year Resident, Maine Medical Center
Spring 2022
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
Fall 2022
Customized wheelchair attachment to assist patients who use wheelchairs with standing on their own from the sitting position
Connie Albair – Medical Assistant, Maine Medical Center
Handheld ultrasonic cleaning device
Seth Robinson – Sterile Supply Technician III, Maine Medical Center
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