Welcome to new Chamber Member Edward Jones Investments

Please help us welcome our newest Chamber Member, Edward Jones Investments.

Elise Frank is happy to tell us, "In 2016, I joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor, opening the firm’s first branch office in Bar Harbor. In 2018, I won the firm's coveted Zeke McIntyre Pioneer Award, which recognizes new financial advisors who achieve high levels of success early in their careers with the financial services firm. I was one of only 125 of the firm's more than 16,000 financial advisors to receive the award.

"My family and I have lived in Bar Harbor since 2014. I have been active in business and civic affairs in Mount Desert Island (MDI) for the past four years. I am a board member of MDI/Bar Harbor Rotary and the MDI Historical Society, a volunteer with the Seal Cove Auto Museum and the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce."

Edward Jones Investments is located at 71A Cottage Street in Bar Harbor, and is open Monday thru Friday from 9AM to 4:30PM. We encourage you to welcome Elise and Edward Jones Investments to the Chamber!

3D Mammography Aids in Early Detection at MDI Hospital’s Breast Health Center

Approximately 1,200 women in Maine are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. In an effort to provide women with the best diagnostic tools available, the Breast Center at Mount Desert Island Hospital is now offering patients the 3D mammogram, a more advanced mammography exam. While 2D mammography takes a single image of the breast, this newer technology takes multiple pictures from many angles, giving doctors a more complete picture, says Philip J. Pizzola, Director of Medical Imaging at MDI Hospital.

Also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, this 3D mammography system is the most advanced in the region that the FDA has approved as superior for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone. “Early detection is essential to achieving the best outcomes,” says Pizzola. “3D mammography is the gold standard for early detection for women across a variety of ages and breast densities, and can be especially beneficial for women who have dense breast tissue.”

Also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, the 3D mammogram is the only mammogram approved by the FDA as superior for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone. Nearly fifty percent of women between the ages of 40 and 74 have dense breasts. Dense breast tissue can make it difficult for doctors to detect breast cancer during annual screenings, which is concerning since patients with dense breasts can be more likely to develop breast cancer.

Because of its increased accuracy, 3D mammography also reduces the number of visits needed, which in turn reduces radiation overall. Patients won’t notice much of a difference between a conventional 2D mammogram and a 3D mammogram, the real difference is in the information available to the doctor, says Pizzola, “It’s essentially the difference between looking at the cover of a book and reading all of its pages.” The exam takes about the same amount of time – a 3.7 second scan time—and the positioning is the same.

To learn more about 3D mammography, or to schedule an appointment, contact the Breast Health Center at (207) 288-8435.

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About the Breast Health Center at MDI Hospital

The Breast Health Center at MDI Hospital is the only Breast Imaging Center of Excellence in Downeast Maine—designated by the American College of Radiology—and one of only six in the entire state. In addition to digital mammography, the Center of Excellence status puts a gold star on other types of imaging procedures including breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided biopsy and stereotactic breast biopsy. These minimally invasive technologies offer women a shorter recovery time, reduced pain compared to surgical biopsies, and minimal scarring. In each of these procedures, our team has undergone specialized training and education to ensure the highest standard of care for our patients.

 

About Genius™ 3D Mammography™ Exams

The breast is a three-dimensional object composed of different structures located at different heights within the breast. These structures can overlap and cause confusion when viewed as a flat two-dimensional image. This confusion of overlapping of tissue is a leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. Using breast tomosynthesis technology, the Hologic system creates a 3-dimensional image of the breast structure, which enables radiologists to more clearly see through overlapping tissue to detect cancers, often at an earlier stage.

The Hologic system is the first FDA-approved breast tomosynthesis system in the U.S. Hologic Genius 3D Mammography™ exams are now available in all 50 states and over 50 countries. To date, more than 8 million women have been screened with this advanced screening system.

MDI Hospital Emergency Room Now Offers Opioid Treatment on Demand

As part of an increased effort to treat opioid addiction, Mount Desert Island Hospital is now offering buprenorphine induction for patients in withdrawal in its Emergency Room. Last year, there were 354 deaths due to drug overdose in Maine alone, with more than 68,000 deaths reported nationally.

“We want to be sure that we are doing everything that we can to combat this public health crisis,” says Dr. Nathan Donaldson, MDI Hospital’s emergency medical director. By administering the first dose of withdrawal medication when the need is identified, the hospital is able to stabilize patients earlier and fill a much-needed gap in opioid treatment.

On demand, first dose treatment is evidence-based, says Dr. Donaldson. This early intervention in the emergency room is followed by engagement with behavioral health professionals and area treatment centers. The hope is that by alleviating withdrawal symptoms earlier, patients have a better chance of participating in longer-term therapy solutions.

The hospital is one of only a handful in the state to offer an emergent Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) program. “Essentially, we are offering buprenorphine induction in the ER to patients with substance use disorder and trying to get them to a recovery program offering MAT with a warm handoff and a soft landing,” explains Dr. Donaldson. Buprenorphine, also known as Subutex, is similar to Suboxone, which contains both buprenorphine and naloxone.

Dr. Donaldson credits Gov. Janet Mills and Director of Opioid Response Gordon Smith with raising awareness around the need for on demand opioid treatment and Mid Coast Hospital for leading the way with their emergency MAT program. “On demand opioid treatment works. Hopefully, every ER in Maine will have this available eventually,” he says.

When a patient is ready to pursue longer-term addiction treatment, MDI Hospital’s emergency room works closely with the Downeast Treatment Center and other area providers to continue their recovery through an integrated “hub and spoke” addiction treatment network.

The network was established through a collaborative partnership that includes Aroostook Mental Health Center - AMHC, Bucksport Regional Health Center, Healthy Acadia, MDI Hospital, Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital, Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, local private primary care and substance treatment providers and others who serve as part of the network's system of “spokes.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and needs help, call the Downeast Treatment Center at 207-667-6890. If your need is emergent, visit your local emergency room.

MDI Hospital President/CEO Arthur J. Blank to Host Listening Session on Senior Health Care

Mount Desert Island Hospital President/ CEO Arthur J. Blank will meet with community members to discuss issues surrounding senior health care on Thursday, September 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Jesup Memorial Library.

In this moderated session, attendees will have the opportunity to share their thoughts, questions and concerns around senior health care, retirement and rehabilitative care, aging in place, short-term and long-term care.

“With the continued growth of the retirement population in Maine and the recent closure of our local long-term care facility, we want to hear from our community about how we can best work together to address the needs of our aging population,” said Blank.

Since joining MDI Hospital in 1999, Blank has worked to strengthen the health of the community through the pursuit of innovative care and an integrated health system. Under his leadership, the organization has forged a groundbreaking teaching partnership with Penn Medicine, established a nonprofit retirement community, transitioned to a critical access hospital and incorporated eight community health centers, including the community’s first full-service behavioral health center and a nonprofit dental center.

Blank graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Boston University in Boston, MA in 1975. He successfully completed a year of legal studies at Villanova University of Law in Villanova, PA., and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free Age by Design event. For more information, contact Carly Ancona of MDI Hospital at 801-5046 or Dana Mastroianni of the Jesup Memorial Library at 288-4245.

If you cannot attend but would like to provide your feedback, please email listening@mdihospital.org.

Southwest harbor Public Library Presents: Maine Boats and Bicycles Show

The Southwest Harbor Public Library is pleased to announce our latest monthly

art exhibit, Maine Boats and Bicycles, by local photographer Michael Rindler.

The show features eight local working boats and seven Maine bicycles and tricycles. Working boats are primarily Southwest Harbor fishing boats and the cycles are both vintage and modern from around Maine. The show also features

Michael Rindler’s newly released book of car images, Motorcar Art.

Maine Boats and Cycles will continue on exhibit through September 30, 2019.

For the calendar: Michael Rindler is the featured artist at the Southwest Harbor Public Library in September with a photographic show of Maine Boats and Bicycles. For more info call the Library at 244-7065.