MaineHealth and MaineGeneral Health

In 2017, the Harold Alfond Foundation provided grant support to MaineHealth and MaineGeneral Health to develop an integrated, patient-centered oncology service line for Maine, with the goal of achieving coordination and integration of high-quality oncology services throughout the MaineHealth and MaineGeneral Health service areas.

More information as provided by our partner:

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the most common cause of death in Maine is cancer. The launch of The MaineHealth Cancer Care Network, with a generous five-year $10 million grant from The Harold Alfond Foundation, has been a game-changer in the fight against cancer in Maine. The Foundation has been an instrumental partner in the creation of a groundbreaking, multi-institution program that is committed to providing patients with “the right cancer care, in the right locations, as close to home as possible.”

One of the key features of this collaborative network is that it reduces the need for travel throughout the state to receive cancer care. Our coordinated system of 11 MaineHealth partner hospitals and organizations provides high-quality treatment and seamless transitions to patients and families throughout Maine and the Mt. Washington Valley. Thanks to the support of The Harold Alfond Foundation, more cancer patients than ever now have access to robust and highly integrated cancer care services in locations all across the state. This allows patients to take advantage of specialized treatment options at a tertiary care center like Maine Medical Center when necessary, while also allowing them to receive more routine care from a local provider. Patients get the best of both worlds: access to the most advanced specialty services and clinical trials, and the ability to stay close to home during a difficult recovery.

Support from the Alfond Foundation has also allowed for significant investments in new treatment options, cutting-edge research, resources for information technology, survivorship programs, patient education, and new population health initiatives. And it has brought new clinical expertise to Maine through the recruitment of physicians at Maine Medical Center and MaineGeneral Medical Center in key areas including a Mohs dermatological surgeon, a head and neck cancer surgeon, and a rotating oncologist supporting multiple cancer practices along the coast of Maine. Another pivotal feature is expanding access to patient navigators who provide education, discuss treatment options, and help coordinate care. Having this resource during times of transitions is critically important in helping patients and families deal with the complexities of cancer care.

Through the partnership between The Harold Alfond Foundation and MaineHealth, the Cancer Care Network is maturing, gaining trust, fostering relationships between clinicians, and most importantly bringing together top cancer specialists sharing their collective expertise to provide patients and families with the best care possible, right here in Maine.