MDI Hospital Orthopedic Surgeon William Strassberg, MD, was recently elected Chairman, Board of Directors, of the Maine Medical Association, and will serve a one-year term. The Maine Medical Association (MMA) is the voice of physicians in Maine, promoting quality healthcare processes and advocating for best patient care.
Dr. Strassberg sees healthcare quality as one of the most important issues the MMA Board will address in the coming year. “Measurement of quality outcomes in medicine are not easily accomplished,” says Dr. Strassberg. “In the end, what physicians are trying to do is improve the quality of life of our patients.”
“Systems are already in place to measure quality in health care and more will be developed over the next ten years,” added Dr. Strassberg. “The Maine Medical Association hopes to influence the shape of these systems so that they reflect a patient-centered approach,” explains Dr. Strassberg. “The MMA will interface with organizations at the state and federal level to ensure that the physician community’s goals are considered in the move to define, measure and make use of health care quality information,” says Dr. Strassberg.
Dr. Strassberg explains that patients of Mount Desert Island Hospital can be confident in the quality of care they receive. “Mount Desert Island is a leader in health care quality. In fact, in a recent study by the Maine Hospital Association, MDI Hospital performed better than 97% of hospitals nationwide in the care of heart patients, and scored 100% compliance with national standards of care for heart patients.”
Dr. Strassberg adds that MDI Hospital has adopted national standards of care in other areas as well. “MDI Orthopedics and MDI Hospital employs the “Sign Your Site” protocol developed by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons for patients undergoing procedures such as shoulder surgery, or hip or knee replacement,” says Dr. Strassberg. “Protocols such as this directly impact the quality of care for our patients,” he adds.
“The Maine Medical Association remains dedicated to maintaining the patient at the center of healthcare, while utilizing modern methods of data collection and measurement to maximize care quality.