ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Obstetrics and Gynecology Rockport is elevating patient safety, infection prevention and workflow efficiency with the addition of a state-of-the-art, high-level disinfection system. This new equipment allows the department to work more efficiently in disinfecting semi-critical instruments used each day for women’s health imaging. 

Semi-critical instruments—those that come into contact with bodily fluids or non-intact skin—require high-level disinfection to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Previously, the care team relied on a manual, multi-step process that took approximately nine minutes per instrument. The new system completes this sanitation process in just four minutes, while delivering consistent, verifiable results that meet the highest standards of infection prevention.

“This is a game changer for our team,” said Jacque Letteney, a diagnostic medical sonographer in the department. “It’s not just about making our work easier; it’s about improving quality and safety for every patient we care for.”

The upgrade was the result of sustained advocacy by the care team, who identified the need for a high-level disinfection system during annual infection prevention reviews. Recognizing the potential impact, MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals’ Infection Prevention Specialists Samuel Benham and Nathan Fowlie brought the request forward to the Philanthropy team.

The initiative reflects the core mission of Infection Prevention to harness new technologies that safeguard both patients and staff while helping our care team work more efficiently. Through collaboration between Infection Prevention and Philanthropy and the generosity of a donor, the team’s vision for enhanced safety became reality.

When the request reached Amy McNaughton, director of Philanthropic Initiatives, she immediately thought of a longtime supporter with a deep passion for women’s health. She called Elinor Klivans, who enthusiastically agreed to make the gift possible without hesitation. Their thoughtful understanding of how this gift will impact women’s health made the partnership especially meaningful.

“Each time we talked about ways to improve, the idea of a high-level disinfection system came up.” said Letteney. “Words aren’t enough to explain how grateful we are, as this marks a significant change and advancement in our everyday work.”

Beyond faster turnaround and improved safety, the system has the ability to integrate with electronic medical records, automatically documenting disinfection cycles, including which sonographer performed the process, which instrument was used and relevant quality checks. This digital tracking supports ongoing quality assurance and compliance with evolving regulatory and accreditation standards.

Training for the new system began in mid-November and the staff are excited to integrate it into daily workflows.

“Investments like this make it possible to introduce the safest and most efficient technology available to our care team and to our community,” said McNaughton. “Philanthropy continues to have a direct and meaningful impact on the quality of care that we provide to the Midcoast.”

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.