Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Central Maine Healthcare

Neurology Conditions We Treat

Symptoms of neurological disorders aren’t easy to navigate – neck pain, dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, and dozens more. They often resemble the symptoms of too many other ailments and can be hard to self-diagnose.

Enter the board-certified neuroscience team at Central Maine Healthcare, who are trained to diagnose and treat the full range of diseases linked to the brain, spine, muscles and nerves. By coupling cutting-edge technology with their compassionate care, our neurology team will take you in hand, identify your specific problem and design your personal treatment plan.

Back and Neck Pain

If you’re experiencing ongoing or severe back and neck pain, the neck and spine specialists at Central Maine will diagnose your problem and work with neurologists and other medical staff to find the source of your discomfort and create a treatment plan.

Why Your Back or Neck Hurts: With back-pain, your movements may be limited. You may even have a stiff neck, which makes it difficult to move your head from side to side. Back pain like this could be caused by something as simple as carrying a heavy bag on your shoulder.
Or your back pain may be a result of a more serious disorder like:
Herniated disc: When a disc protrudes in an abnormal way, it creates a hernia.
Spinal degeneration: Like all parts of the body, your spine can deteriorate over time, and you can lose your ability to walk and stand erect easily.
Spinal stenosis: The spaces within your spine can grow narrow, causing pressure on your nerves. Stenosis often is caused by arthritis and usually happens in your lower back or neck.
Chronic back pain: Once you’ve injured your back, if it’s not treated or doesn’t heal correctly you may experience pain over time.

Diagnosing and Treating Back and Neck Pain: Identifying the source of your pain usually starts with an X-ray to rule out injuries to bones or muscles. Your doctor also may order at CT or MRI scan to pinpoint the problem. You may also undergo an EMG (which is done via fine needles inserted into the muscles) to see whether certain nerves are working properly. A blood test is often added to check for inflammation or an infection. The treatment, of course, depends on the nature of your condition and always is personalized. Many patients respond well to a simple regimen of physical therapy, rest, exercise and medications. However, your individual program might include strength training and aquatic therapy or wearing a foam collar. From there, solutions get more sophisticated:
Baclofen Pump: With this advanced procedure, a small machine is implanted in your chest and delivers pain medication directly to your spinal cord.
Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy: The stimulation happens in your brain. An electric current blocks your brain’s ability to sense pain in your spinal cord.
Surgery: More serious spine and neck conditions call for surgery, ranging from spinal fusions to vertebrae removal. Many procedures are computer-assisted or performed by robots, giving the surgeon a better view than they’d have in traditional operations, with more accurate results.
Regardless of why you’re feeling back or neck pain, CMH specialists can help get your relief.

Brain and Spinal Tumors

At Central Maine Healthcare, we focus on aggressively treating your tumor as soon as possible. Your treatment plan might include radiation, chemotherapy or surgery, and we will make sure you have the support to follow your personalized treatment.

Dementia

Dementia isn’t just one disease, it’s a group of symptoms that affect your memory, thinking and social abilities. Fortunately, at Central Maine Healthcare, you have some of the country’s best resources at your disposal, working quickly to diagnose dementia.

What Does Dementia Look Like? Dementia is tricky to diagnose because its symptoms can signal a long list of unrelated disorders. Some forms of dementia are progressive, like Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy Body dementia. But some types of dementia can be reversed. If it’s caused by an endocrine problem, such as a low-functioning thyroid or by dehydration or certain infections, the dementia stops when those conditions are addressed.

For most dementia, however, there is no cure — but modern treatments can treat the symptoms and slow the disease’s progression. Symptoms generally fall into two categories: cognitive and psychological.

Cognitive symptoms include:

  • Memory loss
  • Difficulty communicating
  • Planning or organizing
  • Confusion

Psychological symptoms include:

  • Personality changes
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Inappropriate behavior

How We Diagnose Your Dementia: Finding the reason for your dementia is a process. It involves a variety of cognitive and psychological tests. Your neurologist will work to reach an accurate diagnosis and design a treatment plan. In order to pinpoint your type of dementia, doctors will first look at your risk factors for dementia: your thorough health history, including your age and family illnesses. Then, they’ll look for signs of depression, diabetes, Down syndrome, sleep apnea, smoking or heavy alcohol use — all of which could influence dementia.

Our doctors will also test your memory, your language skills, your visual perception, and your ability to focus, reason and solve problems. They’re also likely to run CT and MRI scans to check for signs of stroke, tumors or bleeding in your brain. A PET scan can document your brain activity and tell doctors if the protein associated with Alzheimer’s (called amyloid) is present.

What We’ll Do for Your Dementia: Once we know exactly why you’re exhibiting symptoms, our physicians work on managing them. Almost always, they will prescribe medications to ease your symptoms. You’ll likely take a med such as Aricept — a cholinesterase inhibitor — that will boost your levels of the brain chemical that helps restore your memory and judgement skills. These medicines are common in treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Lewy Body.

Other medicines regulate additional brain chemicals that affect your depression, ability to learn, and sleep. Beyond medications, we provide help that can improve your everyday life and independence:

Occupational therapy: Our therapists will teach you coping strategies, which can help you perform simple tasks such as laundry and making coffee. Their aim is to prevent falls and other accidents and prepare you for progression of the illness.

Modify your environment: Central Maine will do everything possible to make your home safer.  We can help you reduce clutter and noise, hide items such as knives and car keys, and make sure you are visited regularly.

Modify your tasks: We’ll look at everything you do during the day and find ways to make those tasks easier. You’ll have structure and routine in your day, which will help you learn to focus on small successes.

Epilepsy

People with epilepsy can rarely predict when they’re about to have a seizure. The good news is that with Central Maine Healthcare’s help seizures can be controlled. Our highly trained experts successfully treat people with epilepsy every day. Epilepsy can develop at any age. For your own safety, if you or someone in your family has seizures, get help right away.

What Causes Seizures? We know that seizures are triggered by sudden changes in your brain’s electrical activity, but what causes those electrical surges? Seizures often start after a head injury. They might also begin after a stroke or when a tumor develops. During a seizure, nerve cells either over-excite other cells, or stop them from sending the right messages to the rest of the body. Epilepsy is diagnosed when these seizures materialize repeatedly.

When you see a Central Maine neurologist about your seizures, you’ll undergo an EEG (electroencephalogram), which can “see” the electrical activity in your brain and, possibly, predict if you’ll keep having seizures. The EEG might find seizure-causing activity in just one part of your brain, or across the entire organ. We might use a process called “cortical mapping” to measure functions and activity in precise spots.

Our Team Approach to Treating Seizures: Because there are so many approaches to seizure control, the Neurology team at Central Maine will form a multidisciplinary team to treat your epilepsy. We’ll take care of your disorder from every possible angle, and professionals guiding your recovery might include nutritionists, neurologists, surgeons and other specialists.

Medications: This is the most widely used treatment. Anti-seizure drugs succeed in controlling seizures for seven out of 10 patients.

Diet: Research has found that a low carb, “keto” diet can control seizures in some people, so your doctor or nutritionist probably will recommend you cut your carbohydrates and focus on eating whole foods, including healthy fats.

Neuromodulation: Your neurologist might also prescribe a device that sends a small electric current to your nervous system. This electric stimulation, called “neuromodulation,” can prompt your brain to release chemicals that change the way your cells act.

Movement Disorders

About a million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson’s disease, and millions more suffer from other movement disorders. They affect every aspect of your life — your job, socializing, mobility, even relaxing with your family. But treatment for movement disorders has come a long way in the last decade, and Central Maine Healthcare is on the leading-edge of movement disorder treatment.

What Are Movement Disorders? If you don’t have a movement disorder, you’ve seen it in others — their heads and limbs jerk or twist in an unnatural way, it may be difficult to understand their speech, and they may not be able to walk.

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressing disorder of the nervous system. People with Parkinson’s may not be diagnosed until years after their first symptoms appear. In addition to tremors, people with Parkinson’s also develop problems with their balance, limbs stiffening and slower movements.

Dystonia isn’t as well-known as Parkinson’s, but more than 300,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed to date. The muscle contractions with dystonia are different from other movement disorders, in that they cause twisting, repetitive movements. Dystonia can affect the whole body or just one limb.

Other movement disorders include:

  • Cervical dystonia, causing twisting contractions of the neck muscles
  • Ataxia, when the parts of the brain that control body movements don’t function correctly
  • Chorea, marked by brief, irregular movements in the face, mouth, trunk and limbs
  • Huntington’s disease, bringing uncontrolled movements, impaired thinking ability and psychiatric disorders
  • Restless leg syndrome, when you have an urge to move your legs at night
  • Tremors, rhythmic shaking of your hands, head and other body parts
  • Wilson’s disease, a rare illness caused by copper build-up in your body, causing neurological problems

Treating Movement Disorders: Your movement disorder may be more easily controlled than you think. Your doctor’s first prescription is likely to be L-Dopa, an amino acid closely related to the brain chemical dopamine and the gold standard for treating Parkinson’s and dystonia, both of which respond to dopamine. Your neurologist at Central Maine also might inject you with Botox®. Botox® temporarily paralyzes muscle activity, making it useful in controlling contractions, especially neck spasms.

Increasingly, surgeons are turning to Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a surgery in which electrodes are implanted in the brain. The electrodes produce electrical charges that regulate your brain’s abnormal impulses, controlled by a pacemaker-like device implanted in your chest. A tiny wire connects the “pacemaker” to the electrodes in your brain. DBS is a revolutionary new procedure whose use will go far beyond treating movement disorders; researchers are studying the possibilities of DBS for stroke recovery and dementia, among other conditions.

Central Maine Healthcare can help you minimize and control your tremors and contractions, so you can return to work and regular daily life.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. That means your immune system, which is supposed to protect your from “foreign” invaders (bacteria, viruses, even allergens) instead turns traitor and breaks down your immunity. Those invaders get into your body, and the protective covering that surrounds your nerve cells becomes inflamed, destroying the cells’ ability to work correctly. That’s when you start seeing symptoms of MS.

Central Maine’s neurologists bring on the latest research and techniques to treating your symptoms. When your MS is treated early, you can expect a normal life expectancy, symptom-free — but you must take action.

Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis: MS is one of the most difficult illnesses to diagnose because its symptoms are almost universal. Anyone can get MS, though women are more likely, and while the typical age at the onset is 20 to 40 years old, it can begin at any age. Diagnosis also is tricky because MS symptoms appear in degrees, from mild (numb limbs, for example) to severe cases with paralysis and blindness. Other symptoms include:

  • Blurred or double vision
  • Blindness in one eye
  • Red/green color distortion
  • Muscle weakness in limbs, causing balance and coordination problems
  • Prickling, numbing feelings in arms and legs
  • Pain in limbs
  • Trouble speaking
  • Tremors
  • Dizziness
  • Hearing loss
  • Depression
  • Difficulty concentrating, and problems with memory and judgement

Some symptoms happen briefly and pass, while others persist. People with MS can be symptom free and then suffer a relapse or flare-up, or the disease can be a steady progression. There’s just no such thing as a “normal” case of MS.

There also is no standard test for MS. Your neurologist and other caregivers will test you based on your current symptoms, and those they think you’re likely to develop. They may give you a neurological exam, blood analysis, brain and spine imaging, lumbar puncture test (known as a “spinal tap”). They also may prescribe an MRI scan, because 90 percent of people with MS show changes in their brain or spinal cord, and other tests that measure magnetic fields of your cells and the electrical activity in your muscles.

Treating You for a Speedy Recovery: There’s no cure for MS, but there is recovery from flare-ups, and that’s our goal when we treat MS at Central Maine. We aim to manage your symptoms, and your treatment will reflect your experience. For instance, we might prescribe a corticosteroid medication such as prednisone to reduce the inflammation in your nerves. We often turn to a host of meds that might slow the worsening of the disease, or help block the immune system’s attack on myelin, that protective covering around your nerves.

If your MS is newly diagnosed or especially severe, we might recommend a plasma exchange. This innovative procedure involves removing your plasma, mixing it with a protein solution, then putting it back into your body. Depending on your symptoms, we might also prescribe meds to combat your fatigue, resolve depression or help control your bowel or bladder. We also prescribe Interferon, a drug that can reduce the severity and frequency of your relapses.

A healthy lifestyle is important, too, in keeping MS symptoms under control. You’ll work with a physical therapist on stretching and strengthening exercises, and you’ll learn to use devices that make daily tasks easier. If you’re feeling stiff or experiencing spasms, we’ll teach you muscle relaxation exercises.

For such a wide range of symptoms, our neurologists will collaborate with as many colleagues as necessary to tame them and get you living a normal, productive life. For most MS patients, there’s no reason not to work full-time and resume all the activities they enjoy.

Stroke

There are 7 million stroke survivors in America today. Central Maine Healthcare treats more than 200 stroke patients each year, mostly through our Emergency Department where we can quickly evaluate and treat your condition. Once you’ve had a stroke or heart disease, your risk of stroking escalates.

If you or a family member are at risk for a stroke, we can help you make sure there are no strokes in your future.

CMMC Specialty Pharmacy

More Than Just a Pharmacy

The goal of the CMMC Specialty Pharmacy is to help patients understand their chronic and complex diseases and the medication used to treat them.

Specialty pharmacies are not the same as retail pharmacies. Our specialty pharmacists help make sure the medication you take is safe and works for you. We offer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so we are always here to assist you with any questions you may have. We can also help you get assistance to pay for your medications if needed.

Our CMMC Specialty Pharmacy care team will teach you how to take, store and refill your medication. We can also teach you about any side effects you may have and screen for any drug interactions that could occur between your new medication and your usual medications.

We offer fast, free, home shipment or your medication can be picked up at our pharmacy which is located at 10 High Street, suite 104 in Lewiston.

As a patient of the CMMC Specialty Pharmacy, our priority is helping you live better and stay healthy. The care team in the CMMC Specialty Pharmacy is made up of clinical pharmacists, benefit coordinators, technicians and patient care coordinators trained in your medical condition and specialty medications. We are here for you 24 hours a day 7 days a week to answer your questions about your medication or condition.

Download a copy of the CMMC Specialty Pharmacy welcome packet.

What to Expect

We will work to assist you in getting your medication paid for through your insurance company and other patient assistance programs that may be available. Our reimbursement specialists are experts at completing financial paperwork and finding ways to help get you your medications.

On time Refills Plus Prescription Monitoring

Our pharmacy team will tell you when it is time for a refill, so you don’t miss any doses, and we will work with your provider to make sure you have the best response possible from your medicine.

Free Medication Delivery Plus Supplies

We can deliver all your medications and supplies needed for your therapy to your home free of charge. Our goal is to make sure you have your medicine in-hand quickly there are no gaps in your therapy. We want getting your medicine to be simple.

Providing Care for Specialized Disease States

Useful Links

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention – List of Diseases and Conditions
  • National Institutes of Health – Health Information
  • Medline Plus
  • Safe Medication – Drug Information
  • National Council on Patient Information and Education
  • Consumer Med Safety

Financial Assistance Programs

We Offer Support By:

  • Helping you recognize and manage side effects
  • Reminding you when it is time for a refill
  • Teaching you how to take your medication
  • Answering your questions about your medicine
  • Helping your provider make sure you have everything you need

Our Services

  • Personalized care
  • Regular follow-up
  • Benefits assistance
  • Free delivery and pick-up
  • 24-hour access to pharmacist to address any urgent patient concerns

To begin using the CMMC Specialty Pharmacy or to transfer your prescriptions, please contact us 207-786-1800.

Community Benefits

Central Maine Community Benefits

As a non-profit healthcare system, all three hospitals are required to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) with community members within the service area. From there, a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is developed to address the top health priorities that came from the needs assessment. Below, you can find the links for the CHIPs developed for all three Central Maine Healthcare hospitals for the:

       Central Maine Medical Center’s Community Health Implementation Plans

Community Benefit Report: Each year, a Community Benefit Report is written to detail the accomplishments on all three hospital plans from the previous fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). This report also includes any community benefit activities throughout the hospitals that aren’t listed on the plans. Below you can read the Central Maine Healthcare Community Benefit Report from the previous three years.

Central Maine Healthcare Corporation FY 24 Community Benefit Report
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation FY 23 Community Benefit Report

About Maine’s Shared Community Health Needs Assessment (ME Shared CHNA): Every three years, a community health needs assessment must be completed. Maine’s Shared Community Health Needs Assessment is a collaborative effort between the Maine Centers for Disease and Control, Central Maine Healthcare, MaineHealth, MaineGeneral Health and Northern Light Health. In 2023, the Maine Community Action Partnership joined the collaborative. This process satisfies the IRS requirement for all non-profit (tax-exempt) hospitals to conduct needs assessments. The statewide collaboration helps to avoid duplication of efforts, and there is a far greater reach through all 16 counties.

The vision of the Maine Shared CHNA helps to turn data into action so that Maine will become the healthiest state in the United States. This unique public-private partnership is intended to assess the health needs of all who call Maine home. For more information on the MSCHNA: 
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/phdata/MaineCHNA/
Androscoggin County CHNA 2025-2028
Cumberland County CHNA 2025-2028
Oxford County CHNA 2025-2028
Androscoggin County CHNA 2022-2025      
Cumberland County CHNA 2022-2025   
Oxford County CHNA 2022-2025

Statewide and County Data Profiles-Maine Shared CHNA: Each cycle as the CHNA closes, resulting Data Profiles are created. These reports outline the reported data collection, and the top health priorities that come forward in each county following focus groups, county-wide forums, and a state-wide community survey.

All 16 Counties has a resulting Data Profile. These reports are available to the public, and can be viewed, downloaded, and printed on the Maine Shared CHNA website. Visit www.mainechna.org to view the reports.

The Maine Shared CHNA website also contains:

For information on community resources for CMMC, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital, please visit Community Engagement — Healthy Androscoggin

Kyle’s story

“I have two little girls at home, don’t let me die.” Those are the words Kyle Secor remembers saying to doctors at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) just before he lost consciousness and began a long journey he never imagined taking.

Kyle was injured in October 2023, the victim of a shooting rampage that killed 18 people. His severe injuries would require multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation. Kyle spent six weeks in the hospital and endured 13 surgeries, during which time he and the hospital staff became close. When Kyle left to go home, CMMC staff lined the halls to wish him well. Kyle’s sister called it a “most glorious farewell.”

“It was emotional. Very, very emotional. Like, I mean, those people have been there for the six weeks I’ve been. And, I mean, I made a family,” Kyle said. “The nursing staff and the doctors have been absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be more thankful for what they’ve done.”“What a sight it was to see this brave patient leaving our hospital,” said Steve Littleson, Central Maine Healthcare president and chief executive officer. “He has been with us for six weeks, and in that time our doctors, nurses and other team members have formed a powerful bond with him. We wish him and his wonderful family all the best as he continues his recovery at home.”

Baby Lena’s Story

Within minutes of their daughter arriving, it was clear that the baby was in distress. She was quickly whisked away to the NICU at CMMC due to complications from fluid in her lungs. Ben and Kim stayed with their little one while she received care in the NICU for a week. Family members watched their older son. The baby recovered and the family was able to head home together.

Ben and Kim are grateful for all of the doctors and nurses who cared for their daughter with compassion and provided them comfort during a stressful time. Today, their baby girl is thriving, and she and her older brother are seen regularly at Central Maine Pediatrics.

Pharmacy

Assisting You with Your Medication Needs: The CMMC Pharmacy is open to the public and accepts all major insurance plans. As part of your healthcare team, let our pharmacy assist you with managing your medication needs. The CMMC Pharmacy can transfer prescriptions from other pharmacies with a simple request in person or by phone. Our professional team members provide friendly, knowledgeable service in a convenient location. We are your community pharmacy.

Located on the CMMC Campus:
12 High Street (Lobby), Lewiston

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday – closed
Easy refills:  207-795-7177
Automated Refill Line Available 24/7

CMH Pharmacy App: Convenient & Easy

  • Secure messaging with pharmacy team
  • Request refills
  • Set medication reminders

Sign up at https://patient.rxlocal.com/

Services Offered:

  • Patient counseling and education
  • Refill reminders
  • Text and email alerting systems
  • Convenient shipment and pickup options
  • Medication Therapy Management
  • Immunizations
  • Prescription Compliance options (autofill)

For refills, customers may call anytime, using our “refill by telephone” system, by dialing (207) 795-7177. Please remember that the CMMC Pharmacy offers alternative options to ensure that your prescriptions are filled and ready when needed, including auto-refill; auto-sync (where all of a customer’s maintenance medications can be synced to refill on the same day) and mail order (restrictions apply – please call for details).

CMMC Specialty Pharmacy

Our CMMC Specialty Pharmacy helps patients understand their chronic and complex diseases and the medication used to treat them.

Located on the CMMC Campus:
12 High Street (Lobby), Lewiston

Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program

The 340B is a program overseen by the Health Resources and Services Agency (HRSA), a division of the US Department of Health & Human Service. Under 340B, drug manufacturers who wish to participate in the Medicaid and Medicare Part B prescription coverage programs must offer a select list of drugs to qualified healthcare providers at a reduced price. The program, which is not subsidized by the federal government, is intended to allow providers to stretch scarce resources as far as possible to provide more care to patients.

Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) provides comprehensive, integrated healthcare services to a geographically dispersed population and qualifies for the 340B program enabling us to provide additional services to our community.

What 340B Means to CMH and Our Community: Many healthcare services are only partially covered by insurance or not covered at all. Medicare and Maine Care reimburse at rates that are often far below the actual cost to provide care. Savings generated by the 340B drug program help CMH fill the reimbursement gaps from insurance and also supports CMH’s $5.2 Million of free care to needy community members annually.

Examples of Programs Made Possible by 340B

  • Reduced prescription costs: Our affiliated outpatient practice areas provide lower costs for eligible medications at CMMC’s retail pharmacy and via mail order.
  • Rural Areas: Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals provide full-service chemotherapy and specialty infusion enabling patients to receive the care they need closer to home.
  • Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center: Located at the Lewiston campus, our integrated, multi-disciplinary cancer program combines a full spectrum of services and medical specialists to diagnose and treat cancer holistically. 340B savings enable us to provide access to the most up to date drug regimens for every patient we see.
  • Diabetes & Endocrinology: Working collaboratively with patients, our team of board-certified endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, registered dietitians along with other specialists create a personalized care plan for each individual.

Maintaining the 340B Program: CMMC adheres to the American Hospital Association’s 340B Good Stewardship Principles. We have an internal 340B Oversight Committee comprised of key leadership members from across the healthcare system. The committee meets at least quarterly to conduct internal reviews to ensure our program meets the US Department of Health & Human Services HRSA program rules and provide guidance for our program’s future direction.

Do I Need to Do Anything to Benefit? The 340B program is not a direct-to-consumer program. The benefits of the 340B program for our community, such as those listed above, automatically apply to CMH patients who receive their care across our system. You do not need to do anything to take advantage of these benefits.

If you value the types of services that this program makes available to our community by requiring drug manufactures to provide drugs to CMH at a discount, be sure to encourage your congressional representatives and senators to continue to support the federal 340B program as an essential part of maintaining the availability of exceptional care for Central, West, and Mid-Coast Maine.

Neurology

Neurology, simply put, is the branch of medicine that treats disorders of the nervous system. That encompasses the brain, brain stem, nerves and spinal cord. The largest part of the field is the central nervous system, where we find control of our most basic behaviors—movements, speech, understanding and balance.

Central Maine Neurology

Central Maine’s Department of Neurology treats adults for disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s, dementia, cognitive disorders and more. If it’s a disorder of your brain or spinal cord, we treat it in Neurology.

Our neurologists and other doctors are specialists in epilepsy, movement disorders and other neurological disorders. Not all of the illnesses we treat are unusual or extreme; if you’re experiencing headaches or lower back pain, we will evaluate you to be sure you have an accurate diagnosis and a solid treatment plan. If your condition is more serious, such as multiple sclerosis or head and neck cancer, we have the expertise to treat those illnesses, too.

Neurology will closely coordinate your treatment, working side by side with physical therapists, speech therapists and other clinicians to make sure your personalized treatment plan is perfectly suited to your condition and preferences.

Neurosciences

If you have a neurological disorder, we can help.

Symptoms of neurological disorders aren’t easy to navigate, but we’re here to help. Our board-certified neuroscience team is trained to diagnose and treat the full range of diseases linked to the brain, spine, muscles and nerves.

We treat the full range of neurological conditions ranging from movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease to chronic back pain and stroke. We’re proud that our efforts to prevent and treat stroke rapidly have resulted in certification as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission.

Among the reasons we are certified is the comprehensive and holistic nature of our care. In addition to a partnership with MGH and full suite of technology, we have a team including neurologists, orthopedic surgeons and specialists from other related fields. Specialized nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, social work and other vitally important supportive services are also key components of our world-class neuroscience services.

Contact Us

Central Maine Neurology
10 Minot Avenue, Auburn, Maine 04210
Phone: (207) 795-2927

Learn About Neurological Disorders

There’s one sure way to speed up your recovery, and that’s to learn as much as possible about your disorder.

Central Maine Healthcare sponsors a series of free, informal classes each quarter, specially designed to inform patients and caregivers about how getting stronger and reaching your personal wellness goals. Whether your issue is back pain, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy or another neuro illness, we’ll make sure you have all the information you need to move forward and live as independently as possible.

Central Maine Healthcare also maintains an extensive online health library, where you and your can access the latest medical and rehab information related to your condition. You can use out interactive tools to create lists of questions you can ask your neurologist, use our checklists to evaluate your own progress, and learn as you go so you can make confident decisions about your healthcare.

Support Groups

If you are looking for a support group, please contact Central Maine Neurology at (207) 795-2927 and we will assist you in finding a support group.

Surgical services

When you or a loved one is faced with surgery, we know how important it is to be close to home and family. That’s why Central Maine Healthcare is proud to provide the region’s most comprehensive surgical care—right in your own community.

Each of our locations in Lewiston, Bridgton, Rumford and Topsham is staffed by the same dedicated team of surgeons, ensuring you receive the highest level of care without the stress of travel. These experts perform a full range of procedures, from routine repairs to severe traumas, using less invasive techniques to help you get back on your feet faster.

With our fully integrated health system, you also have access to state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient facilities, advanced technology, convenient lab and imaging and more resources wherever you seek care. And you can always count on us to listen and walk you through what to expect at every step, so you can feel at ease.

Expertise You Can Trust

All of our general surgeons are board certified and fellowship trained, many with advanced certifications in treating problems with the abdominal wall (hernia), colon and biliary system (gallbladder and bile ducts). They’re backed by specialty trained operating room nurses, anesthesiologists, rehabilitation specialists and more committed to your health and wellness.

Complete Range of Specialties

In addition to general surgery, Central Maine Healthcare offers experts in nearly every surgical subspecialty. From life-saving heart and cancer procedures to life-changing weight loss, joint replacement and plastic and reconstructive options, you’ll find the specialist to meet your needs.

Advanced Trauma Care

Serious or life-threatening injuries happen when you least expect them, but rest assured we are always ready to respond. At our Level III Trauma Center, our general surgeons are available around-the-clock and are specially trained to treat severe injuries. We also have on-call access to orthopedic surgeons.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

All of our hospitals feature multiple operating suites, fully equipped with best-in-class technologies, specialized labs, post-anesthesia recovery units and more to maximize your safety and help ensure the best possible outcome.

Less Pain, Faster Recovery

Our surgeons use some of the most minimally invasive techniques available for a wide range of procedures, requiring just a few small incisions. That often means significantly less pain and scarring, fewer complications and faster healing. In fact, many of our procedures can be done on a same-day basis—allowing you to go home and rest comfortably within hours of surgery. Common laparoscopic options include hernia repair, gallbladder and appendix removal and complex hysterectomies.

Comfort & Convenience

If you do require an overnight stay, you’ll find a warm, restful environment at each of our locations. Most of our inpatient rooms are all-private, with individual bathrooms and other home-like amenities. There’s also plenty of room for a loved one to stay with you and flexible visiting hours.

Support for Every Step

We understand undergoing surgery is a stressful time, so we’ve made sure to make your experience as easy as possible.

It starts with our convenient scheduling and pre-admission appointments, where one of our caring nurses will handle all testing, walk you through your instructions and answer any questions.

On the big day, we’ll make sure you feel comfortable and carefully monitor you before, during and after your procedure. We’ll also help coordinate any ongoing care, including our swing bed program for extra recovery time, as well as personalized rehabilitation to help you get back to the life you love.

Expert Surgical Care, Close to Home

Meet our providers

Kyle’s story

“I have two little girls at home, don’t let me die.” Those are the words Kyle Secor remembers saying to doctors at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) just before he lost consciousness and began a long journey he never imagined taking.” Read More…

Pulmonary

Meet our team!

The Central Maine Healthcare pulmonary care team is comprised of board-certified pulmonologists and critical care physicians, along with other highly trained team members.  We provide diagnosis and treatment as well as education.

Our Inhaler Educational Videos include a brief overview video and longer detailed video which goes over the use of your inhaler.

Conditions We Treat

At Central Maine Healthcare we provide diagnosis and treatment to our patients as well as education to both the patient and family.

Formal Asthma Education – We offer formal asthma education where you will meet one on one with our respiratory therapists to learn more about asthma management, preventative measures, avoidance of triggers, the medications used to treat asthma and the importance of compliance with these medications, among other topics.  Asthma education is vital to the successful treatment of this disease state.

Formal Smoking Cessation Counseling – We do offer an opportunity to meet with a certified smoking cessation counselor here in our office to discuss options for successfully achieving smoking cessation.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency – Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which often is under-recognized. We do offer screening for this in our office and if found to be deficient or a ‘carrier’ of an abnormal gene, free testing is offered to first degree family members. To learn more about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency visit www.alpha1.org. We are recognized as an Alpha – 1 Clinical Resource Center by The Alpha 1 Foundation.

Bronchial Thermoplasty – Certain asthma patients may be candidates for a procedure called Bronchial Thermoplasty and we do provide this procedure to those who qualify. To learn more about this asthma treatment visit www.btforasthma.com

Diagnostic Procedures – We offer a wide array of diagnostic and therapeutic pulmonary procedures such as bronchoscopy (including with endobronchial ultrasound) and thoracenteses. Pulmonary function testing is available at CMMC, Rumford Hospital, and Bridgton Hospital.

Pulmonary Rehab – Pulmonary rehab is a monitored exercise program and education session using a multi-disciplinary team to increase activity level and improve the health of patients with chronic lung disease.

Educational Videos

Central Maine Pulmonary provides this educational video to guide you on how to use your inhaler. Each inhaler has two videos, the short video is a quick overview and the longer video goes over the use of the inhaler in more detail.  If you have questions about your inhaler that aren’t addressed in the video be sure to contact your healthcare provider.

CLICK HERE to view the complete inhaler training video playlist on our YouTube page. 

Inhaler Overview

HANDIHALER Inhaler Review —- HANDIHALER Inhaler Review
DISKUS Quick Review —- DISKUS Inhaler Tutorial
ELLIPTA Inhaler Quick Review —- ELLIPTA Inhaler Review
FLEXHALER Inhaler Quick Review —- FLEXHALER Inhaler Review
INHALER SPACER Quick Review —- INHALER SPACER Review
PRESSAIR Inhaler Quick Review —- PRESSAIR Inhaler Review
RESPIMAT Inhaler Quick Review —- RESPIMAT Inhaler Review

October is recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

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October is recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month—a time for families, communities, and healthcare professionals to come together to remember.

On Friday, Oct. 11, team members and guests gathered to rededicate Rumford Hospital’s Pregnancy and Infant Loss Garden, a heartfelt memorial honoring these precious young lives.

We invite you to visit the garden and take a moment to reflect, or offer support. Together, we can bring comfort.

#PregnancyAndInfantLossAwareness #NeverForgotten #SupportAndHealing