Genotyping Center of America in Waterville has been awarded a grant from the Maine Technology Institute to help expand its laboratory to accommodate and accelerate growth.

As a Maine-based biotechnology company, the center is focused on genetic testing as well as the design, development, and commercialization of next generation genotyping to address unmet needs of research institutions and biomedical companies around the globe, according to a news release from Central Maine Growth Council.

In August 2018, GTCA announced the opening of a Waterville laboratory, where it has been operating genetic testing services in the emerging technology and knowledge-based hub within the city’s downtown. It maintains a business office at the Union River Center for Innovation in Ellsworth, but at the Hathaway Creative Center in downtown Waterville, the center is providing accurate, flexible and fast genetic testing services to confirm the genetic makeup and consistency of research models. Seven employees have been added over the last year to support the growing business, which receives all revenue from out of state.

This is GTCA’s second grant from MTI, which carries a total award of $37,500. This will be matched by its investments and utilized to expand its laboratory production, general capacity and process improvements. As a result, the center will acquire additional equipment, and it already has bought and installed a new real-time PCR machine, which will more than double current capacity.

 

LincolnHealth nurse wins DAISY award

LincolnHealth Ambulatory Surgery Nurse Ericka Fairfield, of Pittston, recently was chosen to receive the DAISY Award for providing exceptional care.

The award was presented May 7 by Bonnie and Mark Barnes, whose DAISY Foundation began honoring nurses in 1999 in memory of their son, Patrick, who died of a rare disease. The event was held at the LincolnHealth Miles Campus in Damariscotta. Since its inception, more than a million nurses have been nominated for the award in 50 states and 17 countries, according to a news release from LincolnHealth.

Fairfield has been with MaineHealth since 2007, beginning as a certified nursing assistant while in nursing school. She transferred to LincolnHealth a year later and now serves as the primary recovery room nurse of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.

“I knew I wanted to be a nurse after the death of my Papa when I was 10 years old. I helped my mother, Nana, and aunts care for him, and the experience was truly formative for me at such a young age,” Fairfield said, according to the release. “I knew I wanted to help others.”

Fairfield was joined at the ceremony by her husband, her daughter, surgical services staff members and several other LincolnHealth colleagues.

With campuses in the coastal communities of Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta. LincolnHealth is a full-service health care system and is part of MaineHealth, the largest integrated health system in Maine.

 

Grant joins Farmington’s Allied Physical Therapy

Richard Grant has joined Allied Physical Therapy in Farmington as a physical therapy assistant, according to a release from the Farmington practice.

Grant served five years on active duty in theArmy. On completion of two tours in Iraq, he used the G.I. Bill to enroll in the PTA program at Kennebec Valley Community College, graduating from the program in 2015. Grant has experience treating pediatrics, orthopedic and geriatric patients.

Physical therapist assistants are licensed health care professionals who treat people of all ages with health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Working in conjunction with a physical therapist, they help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility, often avoiding surgery and reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications. Patients learn how to manage their condition and prevent reoccurrence so that they will achieve long-term health benefits.

 

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust hires Garand as VP

Sally Garand has joined Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as vice president, community banking relationship manager, working at the bank’s office at 386 Route 3 in South China. Serving the Midcoast region from Rockland to Topsham, she builds relationships with local small business owners to help them be successful, according to a news release from the bank.

Garand joined the bank staff with more than 30 years of commercial lending experience, having worked most recently as a commercial loan officer at the Finance Authority of Maine. She holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Maine, in Orono. She is a graduate of Leadership Maine Psi Class. In the community, she serves on the school board at St. Michael School in Augusta and is a board member of the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Garand and her husband, Rick, live in Manchester, and have two children in college.

 

Three at Franklin Memorial win health care awards

Three staff members at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, in coordination with National Nurses’ Week, have been honored with the organization’s eighth annual Excellence in Nursing Award.

The award winners are certified nursing assistant Kathryn Hargreaves, medical/surgery; registered nurse Laura Ward, clinical coordinator; and Tiffany Kelvey, M.A., pediatrics.

Nursing leaders and peers recognized them and eight other Franklin Memorial nurses and health professionals May 8 as outstanding by nominated them for the award. The award was established to recognize contributions by the hospital’s nurses and direct care professionals who support the advancement of nursing and clinical care, according to a news release from the hospital.

The other nominees are registered nurses Kim Craig, emergency department, Taffy Davis,  clinical informatics, Sharon Edgar, emergency department, Nicole Emery, medical/surgery, Valerie Farrington, intensive care unit, Molly Mitchell, oncology, and Ronica Smith, medical/surgery; and  certified nursing assistant Susan Lemieux, operating room.

The entire Franklin Health Pediatrics team stated in their nomination of Kelvey, “Tiffany consistently seeks improvements in processes and performances by working with providers directly, discussing problems with peers, and possesses a great attitude towards problem solving. She expects the best of herself and others and brings out the best in those she works with,” according to the release

Mary Sennott, R.N., said in her nomination of Hargreaves, “As an R.N., I am assured that my patients will receive the best possible care when they are co-assigned with Kathy. She is diligent, thoughtful, organized, and always maintains an upbeat mood despite a heavy workload and being pulled in different directions at once,” according to the release.

Valerie Farrington, R.N., along with staff members from the Center for Excellence, R.N., said in their nomination of Ward, “She has gone out of her way to accommodate patients and their families and is extremely empathetic and supportive, but honest and forthright in

giving factual information to patients and families. Laura took it upon herself to become a basic life support instructor to make it more convenient for her shift staff to get certified. This foresight has provided meaningful impact on the lives of our night shift staff,” according to the release.

 

New Dimensions launches building of main office

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, along with Bowman Constructors, broke ground May 2 on the credit union’s new main office, located at 94 Silver St. in Waterville, according to a credit union news release.

CEO Ryan Poulin; along with executive vice president Cathy Davis; Peter Dow, Waterville branch manager; Jerome Allan, board chairman; and representatives from Bowman Constructors were in attendance to commemorate the beginning of a yearlong construction project.

The 12,000-square-foot building is expected to be completed around May 2020, The credit union described it as incorporating state-of-the-art amenities, but with a traditional feel, which includes a larger lobby with additional member service representatives available to help members.

 

Agency sends Maine $400,000 for fighting opioid epidemic

The Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced its second installment of Rural Communities Opioid Response Program planning grants.
Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan received $200,000 for one year to support the Trump administration’s commitment to end the opioid crisis.
The grant awards go toward developing local stakeholder partnerships, conducting needs assessments, and developing plans to implement and sustain prevention, treatment, and recovery interventions to deal with substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder.
The purpose of the funding is to address disparities that plague rural communities attempting to eradicate substance use disorder.
“Rural communities continue to face several challenges in accessing SUD/OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services,” said Associate Administrator for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Tom Morris, in a news release. “Over half of rural counties nationwide lack a provider who is waivered to prescribe buprenorphine,” he said, referring to a medication used in combination with therapy to help people reduce or quit their use of opiates.
Rural communities also face workforce shortages, geographic barriers, limited treatment infrastructure, and stigma associated with the disorders.

 

Compiled from contributed releases

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