Author: Seth Blanchard

NECS Brings Bi-Specific Antibody Therapy To Maine

Written by Seth Blanchard on June 20, 2024. Posted in News.

Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment Now Available in Maine

Scarborough, ME, 2024 – In a significant advancement for cancer care in Maine, New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) proudly announce the availability of Bi-Specific Antibody Therapy. This innovative treatment offers new hope for patients with certain difficult to treat blood cancers as well as cancerous tumors – representing a major leap in the ability to tailor effective therapies to the unique needs of each patient.

For the first time, this cutting-edge therapy is available in Maine. NECS is now the second community-based oncology practice in the country to offer Bi-Specific Antibody Therapy in an all-outpatient setting. This means patients can receive the most advanced treatments close to home, without the added risk of hospital-acquired infections or the cost pressures of hospital-based care, enhancing convenience and comfort during this advanced cancer therapy.

“This is a state-of-the-art immunotherapy,” said Dr. David Fisher, Medical Oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “This is a complicated therapy and NECS has designed a safe and efficient way to provide this therapy for their patients close to home.”

Bi-Specific Antibody Therapy uses the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells with remarkable precision. This promising therapy not only improves treatment outcomes but also brings new hope to those with advanced cancer diagnoses.

“We are thrilled to bring new treatment options to our patients in Maine and New Hampshire,” said Dr. John Winters, an Oncologist and Hematologist at New England Cancer Specialists. “Bi-Specific Antibody Therapy marks a true turning point in cancer treatment, allowing us to tailor interventions to the genetic makeup of each patient’s cancer, achieving a level of precision previously thought to be out of reach.”

The introduction of this therapy at NECS demonstrates the center’s commitment to leading in scientific and medical advancements. NECS is actively participating in leading-edge Bi-Specific Antibody clinical trials with the goal of expanding the availability of this therapy to an even broader cancer patient population in Maine and New Hampshire.

New Partnership With Carrum Health

Written by Seth Blanchard on April 9, 2024. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists Partners With Carrum Health To Provide Comprehensive Cancer Care For New England Employers.

Scarborough, Maine – April 9, 2024 – New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) and Carrum Health have signed an agreement to bring value-based cancer care to employers across Maine and Southeast New Hampshire. The partnership will offer members who have the Carrum benefit access to exceptional cancer care for non-metastatic breast cancer.

NECS joins Carrum’s rigorously vetted Centers of Excellence network of providers who have invested in patient-centric, evidence-based care nationwide. As a breast cancer care COE, NECS will provide essential oncology services to Carrum’s covered members. Carrum Health offers its employer clients access to this curated network at pre-negotiated bundled prices, so members can benefit from high-quality care with the help of dedicated care navigators, without having to worry about cost and administrative burdens.

“Community oncology providers are a critical component in expanding access to high-value cancer care for our members,” said Sach Jain, Carrum Health founder and CEO. “NECS offers exceptional and compassionate care for patients going through cancer. We look forward to working with them to provide the best outcomes and remove the financial burden for patients.”

“Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s partnership with New England Cancer Specialists is one that is rooted in the shared commitment of providing high-quality cancer care to patients right here in our community, close to home,” said Dean M. Carucci, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital. “This new designation as a Center of Excellence demonstrates NECS’ continued dedication to providing evidence-based care, and will no doubt benefit our patients in need of cancer care.”

While NECS and Carrum will initially focus on offering treatment for non-metastatic breast cancer, the intent is to further expand member access to more of NECS’ comprehensive oncology services.

“NECS is perfectly positioned to deliver value-based cancer care to Maine employers,” said Trevor Putnoky, President, and CEO of the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance. “This collaboration opens the door for tens of thousands of employees across the state to access world class care when it comes to detecting and fighting cancer.”

The agreement will ensure affordable access to vital cancer services including chemotherapy and symptom management now, and radiation therapy in early 2025.

“Healthcare costs are too high for patients,” said Claire Cote, Chief Operations Officer at New England Cancer Specialists. “Our goal in partnering with Carrum Health is to provide the highest quality, lowest cost care to those in Maine and New Hampshire who are struggling with breast cancer – a diagnosis that too many of us know first-hand.”

About New England Cancer Specialists

New England Cancer Specialists is the largest independent medical oncology and hematology practice in Maine and is dedicated to the highest quality team-based care for every patient. Comprised of 18 physicians who are nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, they participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more than 30 years, NECS has maintained a relationship with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and became the first-ever Affiliate Member of DFCI in January 2022.

About Carrum Health

Carrum Health is changing how we pay for and deliver care. We offer self-insured employers a value-based Centers of Excellence (COE) solution that connects their members with a rigorously vetted network of surgical and cancer care providers. Carrum’s upfront all-inclusive bundled pricing, award-winning technology, and dedicated care navigation team help lower costs for both members and employers while delivering a superior member experience. Carrum reduces unnecessary procedures by as much as 30% and aligns cost and care incentives to save employers up to 45% per episode of care. Learn more at carrumhealth.com.

NECS Oncologists Start Providing Care At CMMC

Written by Seth Blanchard on January 17, 2024. Posted in News.

LEWISTON — Two physicians from New England Cancer Specialists will begin treating patients at the Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center, which is part of Central Maine Healthcare.

Late last year, Central Maine Healthcare entered into a strategic co-management agreement with NECS, a leading provider of oncology services in the Northeast, to enhance medical oncology and infusion services in the central Maine region.

One of the new providers is Dr. Julia Moukharskaya, a hematologist and medical oncologist whose guiding philosophy is to provide patients with the highest quality of care possible.

Moukharskaya attended medical school at Belarusian State Medical University in Belarus. She completed her residency at East Tennessee State University, Quillen College of

Medicine and fellowship at the University of Vermont.

Dr. Daniel Rausch graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center. Rausch, a native of the Lewiston-Auburn community, was employed by CMMC between 2010-2022, providing cancer care services to patients.

Additionally, Dr. Nicholette Erickson, a leader in medical oncology with CMH for more than 30 years, has joined NECS as part of the agreement and will continue to see patients at Rumford Hospital, Bridgton Hospital and the Cancer Care Center at CMMC, all of which are part of CMH.

New England Cancer Specialists Opens High-Risk Cancer Genetics Clinic

Written by Seth Blanchard on October 16, 2023. Posted in News.

In a bid to offer early diagnosis possibilities to individuals with a genetic predisposition to certain cancers, New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) is opening their High-Risk Cancer Genetics clinic. With the alarming statistic that 1 in 3 Mainers is likely to face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, NECS aims to empower residents by providing new early-testing services and a team of genetic counselors to help families better understand their risks, take action, and expand their treatment options.

The aim for this initiative comes from a desire to not only assist the cancer community but also to reach those in the community who, while not currently diagnosed with cancer, have a family history or known genetic mutation.

According to Leah Robert, program manager of Integrative and Wellness Services at NECS, the target audience for the High-Risk Cancer Genetics clinic extends to individuals with a family history of cancer, those with known genetic mutations, as well as NECS’s existing patients who desire a deeper understanding of their genetic predisposition to assess their risk of cancer reoccurrence. “Our inspiration comes from giving people more time with their loved ones, more time doing things they love to do and more time at life,” Robert said.

“Our soft launch began in July, and we have had significant interest from families with a history of cancer as well as from physicians and self-insured employers who see early detection through genetic testing as complimentary to the services they provide,” Seth Robert, representative from NECS, stated regarding the community’s reception of the clinic.

The official opening of the High-Risk Cancer Genetics clinic took place Oct. 13, at 51 US-Route 1 in Scarborough. Patients, staff, the local community, and the media attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event featured presentations from physicians and leadership, along with a current patient sharing their personal experience of how genetic testing has impacted their family’s health and longevity.

Leah Robert, when discussing the clinic’s goals, emphasized the importance of catching cancer early to guide individuals towards appropriate treatments or heightened surveillance screening. “Our goal at NECS is simple, it’s to give more time to people who are at high risk of getting cancer. What do we mean by this? By catching cancer early, we can help people navigate next steps whether that means treatment or increased surveillance screening. Our goal is to educate our community and to be a leader in health care and staying true to our commitment by delivering the best care and support possible,” she said.

Seth Robert echoed this sentiment by highlighting the clinic’s mission to increase awareness of proactive risk evaluation and steps to monitor, and potentially prevent, hereditary cancers within families. “Our goal is to increase awareness that there is a pro-active way to evaluate risk and take steps to monitor, and possibly prevent, certain hereditary cancers from developing in your family,” he said.

For more information about NECS’s programs and the High-Risk Cancer Genetics clinic, you can visit the following links:

Genetic Counseling: NECS Genetic Counseling
The High-Risk Program: NECS High-Risk Program
An online Risk Assessment is also available for immediate feedback: NECS Genetics Assessment

For more information, you can contact Leah Robert, program manager of Integrative and Wellness Services at NECS, at 207-229-4938.

Portland Press Herald Article Link

Better Access to New High-Risk Cancer Genetics Services

Written by Seth Blanchard on October 13, 2023. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists now provides expanded services at all its locations in Maine and New Hampshire.

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — As Maine blankets itself in pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month, it may also be a time to determine if you are at genetic risk for breast cancer.

Up to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are linked to an inherited faulty gene, according to the American Cancer Society.

New England Cancer Specialists is making new high-risk cancer genetics services available to patients, to help catch hereditary cancers early. This could give patients better access to preventative treatment and a chance at survival.

To say that cancer runs in Robyn Bourget’s family is an understatement. The disease not only affected her, a mother of two, but also her two older sisters, and her parents.

Experts say only 5 to 10 percent of cancers are hereditary, developing from a genetic mutation in a person’s cells at birth. After Bourget’s mom and sisters discovered they were carriers of the same mutation, she also underwent genetic testing at New England Cancer Specialists when she was just 35 years old.

“Once I learned about the mutation, I took preventative treatment options to reduce my risk,” Bourget said.

That included surgery, annual mammograms, and breast MRIs to lower her risk of breast, ovarian, and skin cancer. Preemptive tools that would later catch stage 3 breast cancer. Sadly, she lost her mom to the same disease 10 years ago.

“I had two large tumors and a significant impact on my lymph nodes; I would not have celebrated my 47th birthday,” Bourget explained.

She spoke at the grand opening of the NECS’s High-Risk Cancer Genetics Clinic. Bourget and her family are part of a public awareness campaign about how genetic testing can save lives.

All NECS locations in Maine and New Hampshire now offer genetic counseling, testing, assessments, and expanded patient management services. Oncology genetic counselors work with about 700 patients system-wide.

If a patient wants to proceed with genetic testing of 84 genes related to cancer risk, they can submit a blood or saliva sample that can be mailed to a patient’s home. Patients also meet with Dr. Elizabeth Dennis, who assesses factors in a patient’s lifestyle, including diet and exercise; she then works with people who are carriers on how to prevent cancer and catch it early.

“That may involve more aggressive breast imaging or, in some instances, risk reduction surgery, having an elective mastectomy to decrease risk,” Dennis said.

NECS genetic counselors say most insurance plans cover the cost of this kind of testing if patients meet specific criteria. If a patient has to pay out of pocket, the cost is usually about 250 dollars or less.

After a double mastectomy and dozens of rounds of chemo and radiation, Bourget is grateful that she got the chance to fight cancer and survive.

News Maine Center Maine Article Link

NECS To Break Ground on New Rock Row Location

Written by Seth Blanchard on September 21, 2022. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists, along with developers Waterstone Properties, will officially break ground on their new Rock Row location on Wednesday, September 21st.

Read more about the project in this article from the Portland Press Herald

NECS Certified for Patient-Centered Care

Written by Seth Blanchard on July 21, 2022. Posted in News.

Today, the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) announced that nine outpatient oncology group practices have achieved certification through the new ASCO Patient-Centered Cancer Care Certification pilot based on their adherence to oncology medical home (OMH) standards, a single set of comprehensive, expert-backed standards for patient-centered care delivery, published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). The pilot includes 88 cancer care sites and nearly 500 oncologists from 12 participating practice groups and health systems in a variety of settings. Anthem and Cigna will share hospital utilization, drug utilization, and other payer data for some participating practices to help inform the impact of the pilot on cost and outcomes.

Read the full news release from ASCO

NECS becomes Affiliate Member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Written by Seth Blanchard on January 25, 2022. Posted in News.

For Immediate Release, January 25, 2022

New England Cancer Specialists to become Affiliate Member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

NECS to be the first and only Affiliate Member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, MA and Scarborough, ME – New England Cancer Specialists has become an Affiliate Member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, it was announced today. Affiliate Membership reflects a demonstrated commitment to excellence by meeting a wide array of standards and best practices in oncology care. While New England Cancer Specialists is the first physician practice to become an Affiliate Member of Dana-Farber, the two organizations have a long history of collaboration going back more than 30 years.

The enhanced membership ensures continued benefits for Maine and New Hampshire cancer patients. Patients will have access to the latest and most effective evidence-based practices and standards in cancer treatment and research. As a top five hospital in the nation for cancer care according to U.S. News and World Report, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute further enhances the quality, value, and efficiency of medical oncology services at New England Cancer Specialists. Patients will receive:

Increased access to Dana-Farber expert physicians for second opinions and consultations – without having to travel to Boston – while at New England Cancer Specialists or from their home via telehealth;
Improved and faster access to caregivers at Dana-Farber in Boston when necessary;
Benefits from closer collaboration between New England Cancer Specialists physicians with Dana-Farber physicians on patient care, including physician-to-physician case reviews, participation in tumor boards where complex cases are discussed, increased access to clinical trials, expanding options for treatment based on the newest studies and research, and training programs about the newest treatments and research for physicians and other staff;
An increased use of precision medicine that allows treatment options customized to each patient, through the Philips IntelliSpace Precision Medicine Oncology Pathways powered by Dana-Farber;
Benefits from Dana-Farber leadership participating in various committees at New England Cancer Specialists assisting in nursing, pharmacy, quality, patient satisfaction, clinical research, and operations;
Enhancement to patient programs in areas such as palliative care, genetic counseling, and survivorship.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Affiliate Membership program helps disseminate the latest and most effective, evidence-based best practices and standards to its members. The Affiliate Membership helps to retain the low-cost care received by patients of New England Cancer Specialists and combines it with the high quality and support structure of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to create a high-value cancer provider model in Maine and New Hampshire.

New England Cancer Specialists first joined with Dana-Farber as a Collaborative Member in 2019. As part of this membership enhancement process, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute clinicians and specialists conducted an extensive review of New England Cancer Specialists’ adult medical oncology practices and procedures at the three locations in Maine – Kennebunk, Scarborough, and Topsham – and the location in Portsmouth, NH, reviewing patient safety protocols, nursing and pharmacy practices, chemotherapy administration, and information systems. New England Cancer Specialists once again met the high standards required by the review.

New England Cancer Specialists is the only Affiliate Member of Dana-Farber in Maine.

“We are very pleased to continue working with the physicians and staff of New England Cancer Specialists as they become an Affiliate Member. They are a strong partner who share our mission to relieve the burden of cancer for as many people as possible. Through this expanded relationship, we are pleased to extend our expertise and assure exceptional compassionate care for patients in Maine and New Hampshire,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, President and CEO, Dana-Farber.

“Becoming an Affiliate Member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a testament to our continued high quality patient care and our dedication to expanding access to the best cancer care in our communities. We are very pleased to have been recognized again as meeting the high standards of such a distinguished institution and look forward to continuing to build on our strong relationship with Dana-Farber to serve our patients,” said Chiara Battelli, MD, President of New England Cancer Specialists.

About New England Cancer Specialists (NECS)

New England Cancer Specialists is an independent medical oncology and hematology practice dedicated to the highest quality team-based care for every patient. Comprised of 13 physicians who are nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, they participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more than 30 years, NECS has maintained a relationship with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and has been a Collaborative Member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 2019.

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

We provide the latest treatments in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care.

As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials.

Contact:

Ellen Berlin, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

ellen_berlin@dfci.harvard.edu, 617-750-8884

Victoria Foley, New England Cancer Specialists

Foleyv@newecs.org, 207-409-5115

NECS Participates in New Patient-Centered Care Certification Pilot

Written by Seth Blanchard on September 14, 2021. Posted in News.

To learn more about the Patient-Centered Cancer Care Certification, please see the full press release from the Association for Clinical Oncology. Read the release

NECS to adopt new clinical trials matching software

Written by Seth Blanchard on May 20, 2021. Posted in News.

NEW ENGLAND CANCER SPECIALISTS ADOPT DEEP LENS’ CLINICAL TRIAL MATCHING SOLUTION VIPER TO EXPAND CLINICAL TRIAL OFFERING

COLUMBUS, OH and Scarborough, ME – May 19, 2021 — Deep Lens and New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) today announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration to deploy artificial-intelligence (AI)-based clinical trial matching solution, VIPER, into the NECS network. The Deep Lens’ VIPER platform uses proprietary cloud-based technology to facilitate, triage and accelerate the clinical trial recruitment process. NECS is the region’s largest medical oncology group and serves patients in five locations across Maine and New Hampshire. NECS is also a part of the National Cancer Care Alliance, a group of independent oncology practices with more than 100 locations in the U.S. NECS has a comprehensive clinical trial program that has been in existence for more than 40 years. The integration of VIPER will improve efficiencies and help automate the complex process involved with trial recruitment by identifying and matching eligible patients to trials right at the time of diagnosis.

“Clinical research is critical for advancing new therapies and care for cancer patients and we are enthusiastic about broadening our clinical trial offering with the inclusion of VIPER,” said Christian Thomas, M.D., director of clinical research at NECS. “We look forward to testing the speed, efficacy, and reporting capabilities of VIPER in our research department. We are committed to ensuring that every patient we see has the opportunity to access the newest therapies in development and receive the best possible care for their specific diagnosis. The integration of VIPER will allow us to expand opportunities for patients and free up research resources.”

It is estimated that more than 15,000 oncology clinical trials are actively recruiting patients; however, patient participation in these trials is often as low as three percent. Limited site capacity and resources play a role in the challenge to recruit and enroll, as well as low patient engagement. All of these challenges have been magnified by the current global pandemic. VIPER automates the clinical trial screening process and seamlessly matches patients — at the time of diagnosis — to appropriate trials through the ingestion and analysis of customized genomic data, electronic medical records and pathology data.

“The clinical trial program at NECS is already extremely comprehensive — the team prioritizes emerging research and takes a proactive role in patient education and engagement,” said Greg Andreola, chief revenue officer at Deep Lens. “However, with the increasing number of precision medicine trials that include very complex and narrow eligibility criteria, study sites often find it challenging and labor intensive to manage the recruitment process themselves. We’re excited to help NECS include VIPER and other Deep Lens services to recruit more eligible patients to their trials portfolio.”

Deep Lens’ VIPER will be integrating directly to the NECS EMR (Flatiron Health’s OncoEMR), molecular data feeds (Caris Life Sciences and Tempus) and pathology feeds to automatically identify qualified patients for clinical trials. Like NECS, any practice that utilizes OncoEMR can easily integrate VIPER and all other Deep Lens screening services free of charge.

About New England Cancer Specialists (NECS)

NECS is an independent medical oncology and hematology practice dedicated to the highest quality team-based care for every patient. Comprised of 13 physicians who are nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, they participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more than 30 years, NECS has maintained a relationship with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and is a Member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative. For more information, visit www.newenglandcancerspecialists.org/.

About Deep Lens

Deep Lens is a software company focused on a groundbreaking approach to faster recruitment of the best-suited cancer patients to clinical trials. VIPER, Deep Lens’ integrated cloud platform, provides care teams with visibility and workflows that combine lab, EMR, and genomic data to match cancer patients to clinical trials and precision therapies at the time of diagnosis, accelerating recruitment and compressing study timelines to bring game-changing therapies to market sooner. Growing with sponsors, providers, and strategic partners, Deep Lens challenges the status quo so that patients can get the best therapies. For more information, visit www.deeplens.ai.

NECS Announces Future Location at Rock Row

Written by Seth Blanchard on March 10, 2021. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists (NECS), the region’s largest medical oncology group, will be the anchor tenant in a new Medical and Research Campus at Rock Row, in Westbrook. The campus will include a wide array of medical practices and services.

The target completion date of the Medical & Research Campus at Rock Row is late 2023. At that time, NECS anticipates relocating their Scarborough office to the new facility. Other NECS offices in Topsham, Kennebunk, and Portsmouth will remain open. With the new location at Rock Row, NECS will be able to focus even more on cancer research, furthering its collaboration with top specialists and researchers domestically and globally. Often the first to offer leading-edge protocols and drug treatments to patients in the region, NECS participates in more clinical trials than any other cancer care facility in Maine.

“This place of healing, where state-of-the-art care, clinical research, and a holistic approach to healthcare merge together, will enhance our mission and continue making life better for people with cancer and blood disorders,” said Dr. Chiara Battelli, MD, President of New England Cancer Specialists. “This contemporary center will allow us to continue offering leading-edge cancer treatments to our patients and participate in research with world-renowned partners who are striving to improve the understanding and treatment of cancer today, and in the future.”

As part of the NECS facility at Rock Row:

The main building will be bright in design and beaming with natural light and colorful art.
Infusion bays for cancer treatment will feature glass walls to allow patients to bask in the natural beauty of the area while receiving treatment.
Patient rooms and treatment spaces are being designed to embrace the beautiful Maine setting of Rock Row as well as the adjacent historic 300-foot-deep-water-filled quarry.
A healing garden with manicured walking trails will provide tranquility and beauty for patients and families and connect to the 70-mile-long Portland Trails Network.

Read the full release

Read the story in MaineBiz

Read the article in the American Journal

WINTER STORM UPDATE

Written by Seth Blanchard on February 1, 2021. Posted in News.

Snow storm Our offices in Maine and New Hampshire will be closed to in-person visits tomorrow due to the predicted winter storm. Whenever possible, visits will be happening by telemedicine. Visits that cannot happen by telemedicine are being rescheduled.

For urgent matters, you can reach our answering service at 207-303-3300 or 603-828-0100. Our offices will reopen on Wednesday, February 3rd. Please stay safe!

Your New Appointment Cards

Written by Seth Blanchard on October 30, 2020. Posted in News.

There is a new format for your upcoming appointment card, and we hope it will make it easier for you to keep track of your treatments and visits with your team. NECS nurse Meg walks through the changes in this video.

NECS Joins Precision Oncology Alliance

Written by Seth Blanchard on September 29, 2020. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists Joins Caris Precision Oncology Alliance

Caris’ collaborative network focused on expanding the application of precision medicine in oncology welcomes New England’s largest medical oncology group

IRVING, Texas and SCARBOROUGH, Maine, Sept. 29, 2020 – Caris Life Sciences®, a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, announced today that New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) has joined Caris’ Precision Oncology Alliance™. The Alliance is a collaborative network of leading cancer centers that demonstrate a commitment to precision medicine. These centers work together to advance comprehensive cancer profiling and establish standards of care for molecular testing in oncology through research focused on predictive and prognostic markers that advance the clinical outcomes of patients with cancer.

NECS is widely recognized across New England as an exceptional provider of individualized cancer care, offering patients the opportunity to work with a multi-disciplinary health care team comprised of nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists. In 2019, the practice announced membership in the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative to further develop several new and existing clinical programs, including its genetic counseling offering. Recognizing the importance of genetic information in cancer care, NECS offers its patients genetic testing across more than 10 inherited cancers and cancer-related syndromes. NECS is one of only 12 practices nationwide—and the only one in Maine—named an Accredited Oncology Medical Home by the Commission on Cancer.

In addition, genetic counselors are available to patients and their families to provide guidance and support related to the incorporation of genetic and molecular testing into treatment plans as well as screening and management strategies to encourage early diagnosis and disease prevention.

“Continuous improvement of the cancer treatment landscape is inextricably tied to the individual work of oncologists working with patients at the community level,” said Chadi Nabhan, M.D., MBA, FACP, Chairman of the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance. “New England Cancer Specialists provides exceptional cancer care and we look forward to supporting the expansion of their molecular profiling offerings at the clinical level.”

Through the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance, New England Cancer Specialists will partner with other notable cancer centers and academic institutions to broaden patient access to precision cancer care, have early access to Caris MAI™ (Molecular Artificial Intelligence) offerings, and establish evidence-based standards for cancer profiling and molecular testing in oncology. By leveraging the comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling available through the Caris Molecular Intelligence® platform, physicians from NECS will be able to prioritize therapeutic options and determine which clinical trial opportunities may benefit their patients. Additionally, the institute’s researchers will partner with other Alliance members to contribute and publish data as well as advance collaborative clinical trials.

“New England Cancer Specialists was founded on a collective desire to provide leading-edge, team-based cancer care throughout the region,” said Dr. Christian Thomas, Director of Clinical Research at NECS. “Our partnership with the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance demonstrates our unwavering commitment to expanding the availability of precision medicine technologies like genetic testing to cancer patients in our communities.”

“The Alliance encourages research and clinical collaboration at the national level so that leaders from member institutions can bring the latest insights back to their patients at the local level,” said Brian J. Brille, Vice Chairman of Caris Life Sciences. “We are confident in the power of molecular profiling to optimize cancer treatment strategies and work tirelessly to increase patient access to their relevant genetic information across the country.”

The Caris Precision Oncology Alliance comprises over 40 academic, hospital and community-based cancer institutions, including 16 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Caris Precision Oncology Alliance members also have access to the Caris Pharmatech oncology trial network, which can help reduce the time it takes to identify and connect appropriate patients with novel targeted cancer therapies in clinical development.

Find out more about the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance at: www.CarisLifeSciences.com/collaboration.

About New England Cancer Specialists

NECS is an independent medical oncology group including nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists. NECS physicians, nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine, and recently opened their first office in New Hampshire. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more information, visit newenglandcancerspecialists.org.

About Caris Life Sciences
Caris Life Sciences^® is a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation. The company’s suite of market-leading molecular profiling offerings assesses DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular blueprint that helps physicians and cancer patients make more precise and personalized treatment decisions. MI Exome^™ whole exome sequencing with 22,000 DNA genes, and MI Transcriptome^™ whole transcriptome sequencing with 22,000 RNA genes along with cancer-related pathogens, bacteria, viruses and fungi analysis run on every patient provides the most comprehensive and clinically relevant DNA and RNA profiling available on the market.

Caris is also advancing precision medicine with Caris MAI^™ (Molecular Artificial Intelligence) that combines its innovative service offerings, Caris Molecular Intelligence® with its proprietary artificial intelligence analytics engine, DEAN^™, to analyze the whole exome, whole transcriptome and complete cancer proteome. This information, coupled with mature clinical outcomes on thousands of patients, provides unmatched molecular solutions for patients, physicians, payers and biopharmaceutical organizations.

Caris Pharmatech is changing the paradigm and streamlines the clinical trial process by assisting biopharma companies with accessing research-ready oncology sites for clinical trials. With over 200 research sites within the Caris Pharmatech Just-In-Time (JIT) Oncology Network, biopharma companies can identify and enroll more patients, faster. Caris Pharmatech Just-In-Time Clinical Trial Solutions focus on rapid site activation and patient enrollment to streamline the drug development process. By implementing Caris’ Just-In-Time Trial-Matching System, Caris will automatically match patients to clinical trials and sites can be activated and eligible to enroll patients within one week.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences has offices in Phoenix, Denver, New York, and Basel, Switzerland. Caris provides services throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit www.CarisLifeSciences.com or follow us on Twitter (@CarisLS).

# # #

Caris Life Sciences Media Contact:
Lindsey Bailys
GCI Health
lindsey.bailys@gcihealth.com
212-798-9884

New England Cancer Specialists Media Contact:

Victoria Foley

New England Cancer Specialists

foleyv@newecs.org

207-303-3300

NECS Opens Portsmouth Office

Written by Seth Blanchard on July 14, 2020. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists Opens Cancer Care Facility in Portsmouth

For immediate release (July 14, 2020)

NECS Portsmouth staff members

Scarborough, ME – New England Cancer Specialists (NECS), the region’s largest medical oncology group, has opened a new cancer care facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The facility is located in the space previously occupied and operated by Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Many staff members from the Portsmouth Regional Hospital oncology team, including Dr. Yoko Fukuda, will be joining NECS, providing a seamless transition of care for patients.

At the official opening in Portsmouth, on July 14, NECS Medical Director Dr. Devon Evans (pictured, far left) said, “We are proud to bring our services to the people of Portsmouth and the Seacoast. Our five decades of experience in leading-edge cancer care all come down to making sure we do everything we can for every patient we see.” In addition to a variety of cancer and infusion therapies, the new facility in Portsmouth offers patients personalized financial advocacy, genetic counseling, palliative care services, and social work – the wraparound support patients need on their cancer journey. The Portsmouth facility joins NECS locations in Kennebunk, Scarborough and Topsham, Maine.

In New Hampshire, NECS is located at 155 Borthwick Avenue in Portsmouth, adjacent to Portsmouth Regional Hospital and easily accessible from downtown Portsmouth, I-95 and surrounding communities. Speaking on behalf of Portsmouth Regional Hospital, CEO Dean Carucci commented “NECS has built the largest and deepest medical oncology group in Northern New England. Their physicians have trained at the finest institutions across the U.S. and around the world and are nationally recognized for their expertise. We are confident in entrusting our Seacoast hematology and oncology patients to NECS’ care and we look forward to caring for these patients as we continue to grow our comprehensive surgical oncology program.”

NECS President Dr. Chiara Battelli noted, “I would like to thank the team at Portsmouth Regional Hospital for working with us to expand access to the highest quality care for patients. We’re very excited about the opportunity to bring our team-based care model to the residents of Portsmouth and New Hampshire.”

As at all NECS locations, the Portsmouth facility is adhering scrupulously to all appropriate safeguards regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. As Dr. Battelli has said, “The health of our patients and staff is paramount. We continue chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other vital treatments to keep our current patients on the path to their best outcome. And we are treating newly diagnosed patients as quickly as possible.”

The new NECS facility in Portsmouth may be contacted at 603-828-0100 or through New England Cancer Specialists.org.

About New England Cancer Specialists (NECS)

NECS is an independent medical oncology group including nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists. NECS physicians, nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more information, visit www.newenglandcancerspecialists.org.

About Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Portsmouth Regional Hospital is a 220-bed acute care hospital located in Portsmouth, NH. Portsmouth Regional Hospital serves the Seacoast region’s residents in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts and is one of the area’s largest employers. Portsmouth Regional Hospital is the only ACS Verified Level II Trauma Center on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. Portsmouth Regional Hospital is the Seacoast’s only comprehensive heart and vascular program, and its only 24/7 comprehensive neurosurgical and stroke clot retrieval programs for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. For more information about Portsmouth’s services and physicians, visit: www.portsmouthhospital.com.

NECS Gives Back to Good Shepherd Food Bank

Written by Seth Blanchard on May 4, 2020. Posted in News.

Scarborough, ME – New England Cancer Specialists (NECS), the region’s largest medical oncology group, will be a “Matching Mainers” sponsor during the upcoming NEWS CENTER Maine Feed Maine Telethon. The Telethon takes place from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. this coming Thursday, May 7, with all donations benefitting the Good Shepherd Food Bank. During each “Matching Mainers” hour, every donation will be matched, up to $25,000 per hour. NECS will be a Matching Mainers sponsor from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. during the Telethon.

Hunger in Maine is a serious issue, and has become even more pressing during the Coronavirus pandemic. Good Shepherd Food Bank estimates that the rate of people who lack access to good, healthy, and nutritious food—the food insecure—could grow by as much as 40%. Before the current health crisis, an estimated 180,000 Mainers were food insecure and needed help from food pantries. Good Shepherd Food Bank estimates that this number could reach 250,000 during this pandemic.

NECS has partnered with Good Shepherd Food Bank for the past several years to study the impact of food insecurity and offer emergency food assistance to our patients in need. “We are proud to be able to continue supporting Good Shepherd and their vital work in our communities during this critical time.,” said NECS president, Dr. Chiara Battelli. ”It’s just the right thing to do.”

Donations during the Feed Maine Telethon can make the difference for a Maine family experiencing hunger.

$38 = An emergency food box to supplement a household meal budget for approximately 1 month
$150 = Food to sustain a child experiencing food insecurity for 2 months
$500 = Potatoes and apples to accompany 450 emergency boxes
$1,200 = provides 32 families with an emergency food box

These estimates are based on what Good Shepherd Food Bank learned from the unemployment and poverty rates that followed the Great Recession in 2008. Remember: all donations made during “Matching Mainers” hours will be matched, up to $25,000 per hour. The NECS Matching Mainers hour is from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.

NECS CEO Steven D’Amato says, “From a cancer treatment perspective, we know that food insecurity is only one piece of the treatment matrix, but it’s a key one. People need to have enough food, and to be eating a healthy diet.”

About New England Cancer Specialists (NECS)

NECS is an independent medical oncology group including nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists. NECS physicians, nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more information, visit http://www.newenglandcancerspecialists.org/.

NECS research highlighted

Written by Seth Blanchard on January 20, 2020. Posted in News.

Thank you to Cancer Today magazine for highlighting our work on the issue of food insecurity among cancer patients. Dr. Christian Thomas, who was interviewed for the article, has been a leader in the effort to identify and assist those who cannot access the food they need.

You can read the full article by clicking here.

NECS Kennebunk to offer support groups

Written by Seth Blanchard on August 8, 2019. Posted in News.

Our Kennebunk office will begin hosting Patient Support groups, starting in September. Social worker Stephanie Morrow

Social worker Stephanie Morrow will facilitate the group meetings, which will take place on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m.

Family member support groups will also be offered on the last Tuesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. The first family member support group will meet on September 24th.

These sessions are offered at no cost, and NECS patients and family members are welcome to take part.

You do not need a referral or an appointment to sit in on the group sessions. When you arrive, just let our Kennebunk receptionist know that you would like to participate in the group session.

NECS Bringing ReVital Cancer Rehab Program to Maine

Written by Seth Blanchard on May 6, 2019. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) today announced that the ReVital™ cancer rehabilitation program will be available to patients across its network in Maine in 2019, including an on-site clinic within the NECS offices in Topsham.

ReVital is an innovative cancer rehabilitation program developed by Select Medical, a leading provider of specialized post-acute care. Utilizing physical, occupational and/or speech therapies, ReVital-certified rehabilitation specialists address pain, fatigue, neuropathy and many other cancer-related side effects with encouragement and compassion.

Read the full release here

NECS Announces Membership in Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative

Written by Seth Blanchard on January 24, 2019. Posted in News.

For Immediate Release, January 24, 2019

Contact:

Ellen Berlin, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

ellen_berlin@dfci.harvard.edu, 617-632-4090

Victoria Foley, New England Cancer Specialists

Foleyv@newecs.org, office: 207-303-3225 or mobile: 207-409-5115

New England Cancer Specialists to join Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative

First physician practice to become a member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative

Boston, MA and Scarborough, ME – New England Cancer Specialists is the newest member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative, it was announced today. Participation in the Collaborative reflects a demonstrated commitment to excellence by meeting a wide array of standards and best practices. While New England Cancer Specialists is the first physician practice to become a member of the Collaborative, the two organizations have a long history of informal collaboration reaching back more than 30 years.

As part of the membership process, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute clinicians and specialists conducted an extensive review of New England Cancer Specialists’ adult medical oncology practices and procedures at three locations in Maine – Kennebunk, Scarborough and Topsham –looking at patient safety protocols, nursing and pharmacy practices, chemotherapy administration, and information systems. New England Cancer Specialists met the high standards required by the review.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative helps disseminate the latest and most effective, evidence-based best practices and standards to its members. Members of the Cancer Care Collaborative take advantage of ongoing consultations and access to support services, such as on-site specialty second opinion clinics, clinical trials, tumor board conferences and physician lectures.

Dana-Farber and New England Cancer Specialists will collaborate on enhancing patient access to Dana-Farber for next day appointments as needed. New England Cancer Specialists will have access to Dana-Farber’s clinical trials, and various education and training programs for physicians and staff, including the Collaborative’s tumor boards where complex cases are discussed with specialists at Dana-Farber. Dana-Farber will also assist New England Cancer Specialists as the practice further develops existing patient programs in areas such as palliative care, genetic counseling, and survivorship.

Eastern Maine Medical Center and New England Cancer Specialists are the only two members of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative in Maine at this time.

“We are very pleased to welcome all the physicians and staff of New England Cancer Specialists as a new member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative. We are excited about working together in Southern Maine with a strong partner such as New England Cancer Specialists. The Collaborative furthers our core mission to relieve the burden of cancer for as many people as possible which is done by conducting research to develop new and better therapies, providing expert and compassionate care for patients, and extending our expertise and working with other carefully selected care providers, such as New England Cancer Specialists,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, President and CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“Joining the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative is an exciting next step in the working relationship we have enjoyed over the past three decades. We are very pleased to have been recognized as meeting the high standards of such a distinguished institution, and welcome the opportunity to expand access to the best cancer care to our patients and communities,” said Chiara Battelli, MD, President of New England Cancer Specialists.

“We are very proud of our longstanding working relationship with Dana-Farber,” said Steve D’Amato, CEO of New England Cancer Specialists. “We are thrilled to be the first physician practice to become a member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative. This will allow us to continue to expand access to top-quality care to the communities we serve.”

Financial Advocacy in Community Cancer Care

Written by Seth Blanchard on October 24, 2018. Posted in News.

At the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) Conference earlier this month, New England Cancer Specialists Pharmacist Eric Dallara presented on the growing role financial advocates play in cancer care.

New England Cancer Specialists has a dedicated team of Financial Advocates who work to assist patients with the cost of their care.

Read the full article on the ACCC presentation here

NECS Director of Clinical Research featured in NEJM

Written by Seth Blanchard on June 15, 2018. Posted in News.

Dr. Christian Thomas, NECS Director of Clinical Research, has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the topic of Atezolizumab for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Dr. Thomas is one of several authors, and was an investigator on the study. You can read the abstract here

Atezolizumab for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Nonsquamous NSCLC

Published June 14th, 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine

Collins’ bipartisan bill would fairly price Medicare Part D medications

Written by Seth Blanchard on May 29, 2018. Posted in News.

The cost of prescription medications for Medicare Part D patients would be reduced under a bipartisan proposal introduced on May 24 by U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA).

“Bloated drug costs are one of the biggest barriers to affordable health care,” Rep. Collins said.

The Phair Pricing Act of 2018, H.R. 5958, which includes U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) among the original cosponsors, would close the gap between reality and the claims that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors negotiate with pharmacies on behalf of patients, according to a statement from Rep. Collins’ staff.

Specifically, H.R. 5958 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require pharmacy-negotiated price concessions and pharmacy incentive payments and adjustments to be included in negotiated prices at the point-of-sale under the Medicare Part D program, and for other purposes, according to the congressional record.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports that PBMs and PDP sponsors often use pharmacy rebates and price concessions “to pad their profits” rather than for their stated purpose, which is to reduce medication prices, according to the congressman’s staff.

“Pharmacy benefit managers maneuver in the shadows to block savings from reaching the patients who depend on them to afford their medications,” Rep. Collins said. “I introduced the Phair Pricing Act to ensure that when industry middlemen claim to negotiate lower prices on behalf of patients, patients receive those savings at the point of sale — otherwise, they might not receive them at all.”

H.R. 5958 would direct all price concessions, incentive payments and price adjustments between a pharmacy and a PDP sponsor or PBM to be included at the point of sale, according to a summary provided by the lawmaker’s office.

“Our prescription drug system is in dire need of reform,” added Rep. Gonzalez, who noted the bill would “ultimately put us on the path to making price concessions, rebates and any other reduction in cost transparent, above board and in tune with the end goal: to reduce the cost for patients.”

Additionally, H.R. 5958 would direct the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a working group to determine quality measures that would apply to pharmacy operations. Currently, PDP sponsors and PBMs may impose such quality measures on pharmacies, according to Rep. Collins’ staff.

Sheila Arquette, executive director of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy, urged Congress to act this year on H.R. 5958 to help ensure America’s senior citizens who suffer severe and complex medical conditions requiring specialty medications receive those medications at a fair price.

“For far too long,” Arquette said, “these seniors have been shouldering the brunt of fees that threaten continued access to the critical patient care support services these specialty medications require and patients deserve. Today’s bill led by Rep. Doug Collins and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will change course, protecting access to specialty medications, improving quality and reducing costs for seniors across the country.”

Ted Okon, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance, commended H.R. 5958 because it “ensures that the savings PBMs negotiate are passed along to patients at the pharmacy counter and not pocketed by these middlemen corporations.”

“Patients who face high deductibles and prescription drug costs should be receiving the benefit of all the discounts and rebates that PBMs negotiate, supposedly on their behalf,” agreed Steven L. D’Amato, executive director of New England Cancer Specialists. “This legislation is an important step in the right direction to finally reforming a system that too often benefits PBM middlemen and not the patients.”

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) also supports H.R. 5958, according to NCPA Chief Executive Officer B. Douglas Hoey, who said the measure also “is a welcomed means of providing relief to community pharmacies struggling to run their small businesses.”

H.R. 5958 has been referred to both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.

Read the original article here.

CMH Announces Plans For New, First-of-Its-Kind Health Center in Topsham, featuring New England Cancer Specialists as Largest Partner

Written by Seth Blanchard on March 22, 2018. Posted in News.

New England Cancer Specialists hard hats Midcoast patients will have convenient, affordable access to quality urgent care, imaging, lab and routine and specialty services.

Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) today unveiled its plans to open an outpatient care center, the first of its kind in Maine, in Topsham in July 2018.

The Topsham Care Center, a 44,000 square-foot facility to be located at 105 Topsham Fair Mall Road, aims to provide increased access to high-quality imaging, urgent care, cancer care and lab services, conveniently co-located under one roof. In addition, the center will offer a unique patient experience at a lower cost structure than what patients would experience in an inpatient setting. Rotating clinics will provide a range of specialty care services allowing patients to access the specialty care they need closer to home.

This new center will be the first in a planned network of CMH outpatient centers that complement the health system’s inpatient Centers of Excellence: Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

“This is a new healthcare delivery model for Mainers,” said Jeff Brickman, CEO of CMH. “We have made significant investments in our services and are committed to providing this community with convenient, affordable access to the quality healthcare it needs, with an unparalleled patient experience.”

To bring this vision to fruition, CMH has forged strategic partnerships with healthcare providers known for their quality, such as New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) and Shields Health Care Group. CMH’s multidisciplinary affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) supports the development of new programs to provide best-in-class options for care. “We are fortunate to have some of the best names in healthcare on-board in this important venture,” Brickman said.

NECS Executive Director Steven D’Amato noted the significant need for cancer care in the area and stated that the new Topsham Care Center will enable his practice to continue the expansion necessary in order to meet the growing needs of patients in the Midcoast region. NECS conducted more than 9600 patient visits at its Brunswick office in 2017.

“CMH’s new facility will allow us the space to expand our staff, including new providers, and add more infusion chairs so patients do not have to wait to get the treatment they need,” D’Amato said. He added, “Thanks to this new facility and our partnership with CMH and Shields, our patients will benefit from having many of the things they’ll need for their cancer treatment journey under one roof, including access to mental health counseling, imaging services and more.”

Carmel Shields, Executive Vice President of Shields Health Care Group, stated that her company is proud to be part of a project that is bringing the future of healthcare to communities throughout Maine. “Shields has been working with Central Maine Healthcare for the past two years, and we are looking forward to expanding our imaging partnership at this new location,” Shields said. Shields Health Care Group will provide a full spectrum of non-emergency radiology services at the Topsham Care Center, including MRI, PET/CT, CT, Ultrasound, Mammography and Echocardiography. Shields continued, “Our reputation for offering the highest quality, most convenient and affordable imaging services directly correlates to CMH’s vision for this center, making this a natural fit.”

CMH and Mass General have been working together for more than a year on several initiatives, including cardiology, oncology and neuroscience programs, trauma care and physician recruitment. Tony James, Senior Vice President of Integrated Care from Massachusetts General Hospital, stated, “Together with CMH, Mass General is bringing our comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to specialty care in Maine to fruition.”

Topsham Care Center at a Glance:

44,000 square feet
Specialty care services with 9 exam rooms
Urgent Care with 6 exam rooms
Imaging services including MRI, PET/CT, CT, Ultrasound, Echocardiography and Mammography
5,600 square-foot atrium featuring a charging station and open, comfortable seating
Community room for educational programming and events
Cancer services offered:
14 exam rooms, including a designated procedure room
16 infusion chairs with privacy cubicles
Garden Reflection area for patients, families and staff
Additional services: mental health counseling, naturopathy/acupuncture

Please visit Topsham Care Center

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About Central Maine Healthcare:

Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving 400,000 people living in central, western, and mid-coast Maine.

CMH’s hospital facilities include Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital, and Rumford Hospital. CMH also supports Central Maine Medical Group, a primary and specialty care practice organization with a presence in 17 Maine communities. Other system services include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, a regional trauma program, LifeFlight of Maine’s southern Maine base, the Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, and other high quality clinical services.

About New England Cancer Specialists:

Our mission is to make life better for people with cancer and blood disorders. To accomplish this, we provide patients access to excellence in medical care and information across the spectrum of cancers and blood disorders.

We are the region’s largest medical oncology group, with nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists on our team. Our providers are nationally recognized for their expertise and experience and provide top-quality care to patients at our offices in Scarborough, Kennebunk, Brunswick, and soon, in Topsham.

About Shields Healthcare Group:

A family-owned and -operated business, Shields Health Care Group provides MRI, PET/CT, Radiation Oncology and Ambulatory Surgical Center services at more than 30 locations across New England. Through joint-venture partnerships with as many as 20 top hospitals and healthcare providers, Shields delivers cutting-edge technology, provider expertise and affordability while prioritizing the patient experience above all. Additionally, Shields ProCare offers medical imaging equipment maintenance and service throughout New England. Every Shields center is ACR accredited.

About Massachusetts General Hospital

Consistently ranked among the best hospitals in America by U.S. News and World Report, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is an undisputed global leader in medical discovery, conducting the largest hospital-based research program in the United States with more than $900 million (USD) in annual research funding. Mass General is the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, where nearly all our staff physicians serve as faculty. Patients at Mass General have access to a vast network of physicians – many of whom are global leaders within their fields. Our multidisciplinary care teams are known worldwide for innovations in cancer, digestive disorders, the neurosciences, heart disease, orthopedics, transplantation, urologic diseases and trauma care. We unite specialists across the hospital to offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care for adults and children.

NECS Kennebunk Location Hosts Working Artist Through Maine Arts Commission Grant

Written by Seth Blanchard on February 14, 2018. Posted in News.

NECS is hosting professional painter, Erin McGee Ferrell (ArtistAMERICAN.com) at its Kennebunk location each Wednesday afternoon for eight weeks through March 21, 2018. The project, which is funded by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission and Artist and Craftsmen Supply, is designed to assess the impact on medical facility patients and staff of an artist working in their midst.

After her first session, on January 24th, Ferrell reported, “Among the nine people I surveyed today, the majority said that watching me paint was a positive distraction from receiving the chemo treatments.”

“We are excited to bring this project to NECS for the benefit of our patients, staff and community,” said Steve D’Amato, Executive Director of NECS. “Our patients and their loved ones are going through a lot when they walk through our doors, so we try to do whatever we can to make their days brighter and a little less stressful. Ms. Ferrell’s work appears to do just that, based on her first session.”

“I have often placed big paintings on medical walls to distract patients from pain,” Ferrell notes, “but this project is more about the response to my working in the space than the paintings themselves. I am surveying anyone who happens to be in the infusion area of NECS Kennebunk and is willing to participate—patients and their supporters, employees, and others—and am comparing the results with my long experience painting in public on the streets.” Ferrell has received guidance on the project from her research partner, social psychologist Betsy Parks-Stamm, PhD, and two board members of The National Organization for Arts in Health (theNoah.net).

Ferrell’s residency is part of a pilot project designed to look at active verses passive visual art in the Health Care Environment. Traditionally, people think of art playing a passive role on the walls of hospitals and in therapy programs. More recently, active visual artists have been shown to alter environments in a way that improves the patient experience, decreases anxiety and fosters community-building. Ferrell’s goal is to further research and document more opportunities for collaboration between the arts and healthcare.

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Erin McGee Ferrell has been a professional artist for 25 years. A two-time cancer survivor based in Falmouth, Maine, she often works in public places where onlookers collaborate in her creative process. Among her many works are large 2-D mixed media installations for corporate and healthcare facilities, and urban architectural oil paintings from the streets of Portland, ME and Philadelphia, PA. Represented in Maine by the Venn and Maker Gallery of Portland, she is nationally recognized and collected by numerous institutions and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.artistamerican.com/. The Maine Arts Commission is an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Artist and Craftsmen Supply is a Portland retailer of art materials and supplies.

Picture 1: New England Cancer Specialists patient, Ulrich Schachtschneider, and his wife, Gail, admire one of Ferrell’s paintings during the first session of her eight-week project to assess the effects on people in the facility of her actively painting in their midst.

Picture 2: While the paintings created during the project are not Ferrell’s main focus, reactions to them have been extremely positive, so she is hanging them at the facility for the eight-week duration.

Picture 3: Erin McGee Ferrell about to begin her first afternoon painting in the chemotherapy infusion area of New England Cancer Specialists’ Kennebunk office.