Mainebiz

B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 66 B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N S p e c t r u m H e a l t h c a r e P a r t n e r s s t a r t e d in 1996 with a simple, but unique, idea: Why not create a network of anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists who could remain independent, but still work together to help make it easier for patients to manage their health care? at idea, 21 years later, has blossomed into a 200-physician, 700-employee health care system that still, even as challenges to managing health care increase for both doctors and patients, is finding ways to increase efficiency and enhance patient care while keeping costs down. "It's an entrepreneurial way of thinking about health care," says Kelly David, director of marketing and public relations. Spectrum's Story In 1996, a handful of physicians from Northeast Anesthesia Professional Association, Maine Pathology Associates and Radiology Associates of Maine decided they could be stronger together, and merged, becoming Spectrum Medical Group. e partners recognized that as Maine's managed care envi- ronment evolved, there was both opportunity, as well as neces- sity, for physicians to play a leadership role. ey believed that a well-organized, integrated, physician-led organization could form the backbone of a system that would provide high quality, comprehensive medical services that would best meet the needs of patients, employers, insurers, other physicians, managed care organizations and health care systems. e specialists also wanted to maintain focus on their fields, while allowing patients to smoothly navigate their care across specialties. "eir goal in coming together was to continue to work col- laboratively with the hospitals they practiced in," David says, "but continue to make decisions about their sub-specialties that allowed for the best care for patients." P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F S P E C T R U M M E D I C A L G R O U P Spectrum Healthcare Partners (formerly Spectrum Medical Group) 324 Gannett Drive Suite 200, South Portland, ME 4106 6 State Street, Suite 611, Bangor, ME 4401 Health Care David Landry, CEO Founded: 1996 200 physicians, 700 employees total www.spectrumhcp.com An entrepreneurial physician-led approach to managing health care Spectrum Healthcare Partners e system thrived, though for the first 15 years as a relatively quiet presence. Many of its patients in Maine and New Hampshire probably would have been surprised to know that their specialist was part of the network, Kelly says. e group focused on those specialties, understanding that by maintaining a strong focus, they could provide better care. e group also stresses strong patient advocacy, approaching medical care based on sound clinical data as well as cost considerations. But the vision also evolved as the group grew. e biggest change was in 2014, when Spectrum added ortho- paedics to the list of specialties, doubling in size. Orthapaedic patients can find Spectrum services at Central Maine Orthpaedics, of Auburn; OA Centers for Orthopaedics, in Portland, Saco, Windham and Brunswick; and Falmouth Orthopaedic Center. Spectrum is now Maine's largest multi-specialty, physician- owned and directed professional organization. More than 200 physicians practice in the areas of anesthesiology, orthopaedics, pain management, pathology, radiology and radiation oncology in hospitals throughout Maine and eastern New Hampshire. Who Spectrum Is Spectrum includes anesthesiologists, orthopaedists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, support staff, and more, stretching from eastern New Hampshire to Presque Isle in northern Maine. e physician-led group is run by a board of directors that has set goals that include a focus on quality care, work on solving regional health care issues and providing the highest quality sub-specialty services to customers. And by customers, Spectrum doesn't only mean patients, but also hospitals, physi- cians and individuals. Spectrum's physicians care about what they do and it shows – for instance, in 2015, when Down East Magazine asked Maine's doctors who they would go to for help if their own family members had concerns, 15 of Spectrum's physicians made the list. ose named came from all corners of Spectrum's services: anes- thesiology, orthopaedics, pathology, radiation oncology and radiology. "Our physicians are deeply committed to providing quality care to our patients and great health care value to all our customers," Spectrum CEO David Landry said when the list was announced. But just as important as the talent and skill of Spectrum phy- sicians, is their commitment to the communities. Spectrum's physicians live where their patients do and care about what their patients care about. ey provide hours of uncompensated care, and generously support hospitals through capital campaign donations and annual giving programs. ey also are major financial supporters for cancer events, children's and educational programs, and cultural events. ey are actively involved because, just like their neighbors and their patients, Spectrum's physicians want to foster healthy, well-rounded communities. Board President Dan Landry (no relation to CEO David Landry), an anesthesiologist, has been with Spectrum since the beginning, and has been president since 2010. He gave up his clinical practice to focus on the administrative end in 2015. Although an administrator, he's the physician leader of an organization run by physicians, so he deeply understands what drives Spectrum's members. He eloquently spoke about that pas- sion when he was part of the Real Men Wear Pink American Cancer Society breast cancer awareness effort in 2016. "My mother died of sarcoma 10 years ago, but I have been most impacted by the children I have cared for who have cancer.," he said. "Very early in my training I remember a 9-year-old boy who was hos- pitalized with a lymphoma. He had a difficult family situation and my wife and I were planning to take him out of the hospital for a day to go to Boston Common. e night before our trip, he died unexpectedly. Dr. Amy Harrow, of Northern Radiology, is a board-certified specialist, with a specialty interest and expertise in reading breast imagery — she is fellowship-trained in this field.

• Cover