When April Loring first came to Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) she was very sick. "I just lost a friend due to complications from diabetes and additional health issues. I did not want that to happen to me," April shares through tears. April was overweight, had high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and was depressed.  

Wendy Perkins, RN, was quickly assigned as April's care manager. They regularly meet twice a month and when April needs extra guidance, she calls Wendy in between appointments. "I really see myself as helping people with self management," says Wendy. The Bangor Beacon care model allows care managers to spend more time with their patients so they can listen to what is going on and help address concerns. They also connect patients with resources and deomonstrate different ways to go about changing their health issues.

"Every patient is different. For example, April loves to read information about her particular diseases, so I always make sure to have literature available for her. This is really an exciting project because we see some real changes in our patients," smiles Wendy.

April is feeling better than she has in years. So far, she's lost more than 40 pounds, her blood pressure is normal, and her blood sugar is coming down. "I no longer eat one big meal a day. I know now I have to eat small meals throughout the course of the day. I can sit on the floor with my niece and play. I couldn't do that a year ago! My new motto is 'get up and go'," laughs April. When April first walked into PCHC it was with tears of sadness and fear. Now, she cries tears of joy at a life she is taking back.

Often times, patients in our area with mental illness receive there primary care at the Acadia Hospital or at Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS). Through Bangor Beacon, we are trying to integrate their care to help improve their qualitiy of life.

Patients of The Acadia Hospital and CHCS are being included in the treatment initiatives related to improving the health status of patients who suffer from one of the four chronic conditions (congestive heart failure, COPD, diabetes, and asthma) being studied by the Bangor Beacon Coummunity project. Care managers with specialized mental health training work with these patients and also provide support for partner agencies. CHCS is currently enrolling patients and Acadia will begin enrolling by the end of March.

David Proffitt, PhD, president and CEO of Acadia Hospital shares, "a person with mental health diagnosis who also suffers from a chronic disease dies, on average 25 years before someone who just has a chronic disease."

Bangor Beacon hopes to help remove barriers to mental health patients. Under current law, mental health status information cannot be be shared through an electronic medical record. Through Beacon, we hope to eliminate this barrier so that everyone can receive the same level of care for their disease no matter where they receive treatment.