🔒Health care’s next frontiers are knocking at the door

Health care continues to change in Maine and our writers share several topics that are front of mind today.

For our cover story, Laurie Schreiber looks at how robotics have changed even routine surgeries just in the past few years. To see how far the trend is expected to go, see the story, “Robots at the bedside,” which starts on Page 16.

Rural areas in Maine and elsewhere have been ravaged by the opioid crisis and other health challenges just as they are becoming increasingly isolated from hospitals and health care services, as Maureen Milliken reports. See her story, “Prescription for Maine’s health: It’s all about access,” on Page 22.

Maine’s workforce is relying more and more on New Mainers, many of whom may speak multiple languages but not English. To adapt to Maine’s changing population base, MaineHealth is working with Portland’s immigrant center to provide education and break down the language barrier. See the story by Renee Cordes, “Speaking the same language,” on Page 28.

As finances are topical in today’s health care conversation, see Maureen Milliken’s Q&A with Jeff Brickman, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. Two years ago, he was the subject of a “no confidence” vote by staff, but today the hospital system is seeing a financial turnaround. See Page 35.

We have two health care-related lists in this issue: Maine’s largest nursing and assisted living homes (Page 32) and Maine’s largest hospitals (Page 38).