"Our current cost of healthcare is not sustainable any longer - we can't continue to pay an eight to ten percent increase each year," shares Tom Hopkins, director of Compensation and Benefits at the University of Maine System. Tom has spent the past decade making sure employees and their families have high quality and convenient healthcare for one of our state's largest employers. He is one of more than 50 members of our Statewide Advisory Committee who attended our latest meeting in April.

The committee includes patients, providers, nurses, employers, payers, and many other organizations that represent quality improvement. "In order to ensure the success and sustainability of our hard work, we need these people, their insight, and their experience. It's invaluable," explains Cathy Bruno, EMHS chief information officer, and executive sponsor of the Bangor Beacon Beacon grant. The focus of the latest meeting was to take a look back at the first year of the grant, to discuss opportunities for better communication, and what's working well and what could use improvement. We also took a look at care transitions and how our partners can work better at providing seamless care for patients, regardless of where they receive their care. "It was a rich discussion from a variety of aspects and we are thankful for their time and continued support of this grant," shares Michelle Hood, EMHS president and CEO.

For Tom Hopkins the meeting was very helpful. He is part of a special task force named by the Chancellor of the University of Maine System to come up with recommendations to limit the cost of healthcare. "We definitely like what we are hearing. I plan on sharing what is happening in Bangor Beacon with the Chancellor," smiles Tom. The next Statewide Advisory meeting is scheduled for July 20, 2011.