Juliette Cohen, who has been a registered nurse for 15 years, has started a new business called Above and Beyond Scheduling.

“We act as a liaison between clients and caregivers,” Cohen said. “Patients need help to be in their homes sometimes. Maybe it's two hours a day or 24-hour care. We can provide both and any range in between.”

With the region’s loss of important health services, such as the changing of the hospital into an urgent care facility, and the subsequent reduction in the number of beds available for patients in the area, Cohen saw a void being created that she could help fill.

“Hospitals are great when you are sick, but what happens when you leave?” Cohen said. “Many patients still need care afterward, and one-on-one specialized care has the best benefit to patients.”

“Besides, in a hospital, you have to wait your turn to be taken care of,” said Ronald Cohen, her husband.

To start the process with Above and Beyond scheduling, a client (or family member of the client) first contacts Cohen (by phone at 207-633-6338 or email aboveandbeyondscheduling@gmail.com). She visits the client and performs a complete health assessment, determining what level of care they and their family require. She then contacts the appropriate caregivers to offer the hours and find the right fit for the client’s needs.

Cohen's network includes certified nursing assistants (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), certified residential medication aids (CRMA), personal support specialists (PSS),and Registered Nurses (RN). The majority of health professionals she works with she met during her career as a nurse, or were her students when she taught classes for CNAs and CRMAs.

“These are people I've worked with for years, people I know and trust,” Cohen said.

Along with scheduled care, Cohen will also have the responsibility of follow-up care assessment visits. The more hours a patient needs care for, the more frequent these visits will be.

“A patient getting round-the-clock care would be seen at least once a week by me,” Cohen said. “These visits are to asses the patients status and see if their care needs to be adjusted, how they are coping, what needs they have that we are not currently meeting and could,” Cohen said. “I will also be on call 24 hours a day for troubleshooting.”

While being on call 24 hours seems impossible, Cohen insists it's not. “It's about keeping on top of things, fixing problems before they happen,” Cohen said. “With regular assessments and care adjustments, major problems shouldn't occur too often. Of course I've had situations with patients who deteriorated rapidly, and there were several days of almost constant work, but that is the exception.

“Besides, I love my work. Caring for people is what I do.”

Ron Cohen is involved in the business as the accountant. Along with handling the finances for the business, he will also be offering services for clients where they can write a single check to Above and Beyond, who takes care of distributing the funds to the caregiver(s). Ron Cohen currently works for the National Guard, and is completing two bachelor’s degrees with the University of Maine.

The Cohens entered the UMaine Business Challenge, and were announced as one of five finalists in February. On April 26, winners will be announced. Winners receive $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in consulting services, both to help the company, while second place receives $1,000 in cash and consulting. They have spent the last six months building their business plan, and will be presenting their business to the judges the weekend of April 26-27.

Cohen describes herself as “comfortable facing challenges” and describes her nursing life as an “exciting adventure.” She grew up in Virginia and North Carolina, and has lived in Maine for the past 20 years. She received her degree in nursing from the University of Maine nursing program, and has worked at St. Andrews Village, in long-term care, triage, and in the Maine prison system. When people ask how she and her husband met, she happily tells them “we met in prison,” as Ron Cohen used to work as a corrections officer.

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