Norumbega Medical

BANGOR – Norumbega Medical at Evergreen Woods in Bangor is included in an article published in the most recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Can Health Care Teams Improve Primary Health Care Practice?” looks at the effectiveness of health care teams. The authors assert that although caregivers from different disciplines treating patients together often are referred to as “teams,” in fact each group needs to earn that title by how they behave.

According to the article, cohesive health care teams have five key characteristics – clear goals with measurable outcomes, clinical administrative systems, division of labor, training of all team members and effective communication. Two organizations were described in the article as demonstrating those components. One was the Georgia region primary care sites of Kaiser Permanente. The other was Norumbega Medical, led by Dr. Charlie Burger and Dr. Frank Bragg.

Norumbega Medical, with offices in Bangor, Brewer and Orono, is a department of Eastern Maine Medical Center.

OHI

HERMON – State Sens. Ed Youngblood, Brewer, and Betty Lou Mitchell, Hermon, attended OHI’s board meeting March 25 at OHI’s business office, 25 Freedom Parkway. The pair presented the organization with a legislative statement recognizing the organization’s achievements over the last 25 years.

In March 1979, OHI, formerly Opportunity Housing Inc., began providing services to people with mental retardation, mental illness, autism and other disabilities in Greater Bangor. The organization formed as a response to the Pineland Consent Decree, which was the court ruling against Maine that prompted the de-institutionalization of people with disabilities. What began as a small organization supporting only 12 former Pineland and Bangor Mental Health Institute patients in two homes has grown to become a nonprofit organization supporting more than 400 people each year.

2-1-1 Maine

BANGOR – United Way of Eastern Maine held an educational forum March 26 about 2-1-1 Maine, a statewide system that will provide information and referral to those in need of health and human service resources.

Implementation of 2-1-1 Maine is set for April 2005.

“2-1-1 Maine will allow anyone in Maine to dial 211 anytime and get connected to the information and resources they need,” said Nancy Roberts United Way vice president of community impact. “2-1-1 efforts have already been implemented in 25 states serving 82 million people and national legislation is pending to make this service available nationwide.”

NAMI class

BANGOR – To help families cope with mental illness, NAMI Bangor is offering a free, 12-week Family Education course 6-9 p.m. beginning April 21 at the Acadia Hospital’s Penobscot Room.

Participants will learn about schizophrenia, bipolar and depressive disorders, anxiety, panic and obsessive illnesses. Medication, the brain, how to cope with difficult behaviors and self care also will be discussed.

To register for the class, call Nancy Grimes at 223-5686.