Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Services

Imaging Services

Central Maine Healthcare has cutting edge Imaging technology that allows us to see patient anatomy clearer and better than ever before. And what’s more is that we do not have to sacrifice patient comfort in the process — our equipment is always clean and comfortable. Our Technologists make sure your images are completed as quickly and accurately as possible and the Radiologist provide detailed reports for each exam.

CMH offers a full range of imaging technology, services and centers including X-Ray, Interventional Radiology, Open-Bore MRI, Computerized Tomography, Mammography, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine.

Find a Location Near You

Central Maine Medical Center
300 Main Street
Lewiston, ME  04240
Imaging:  207-795-2410

Bridgton Hospital
10 Hospital Drive
Bridgton, ME  04009
Imaging: 207-647-6092

Rumford Hospital
420 Franklin Street
Rumford, ME  04276
Imaging: 207-369-1131

Shields Health Care Group offers state-of-the-art imaging, including MRI, PET/CT, Mammography, CT, Echocardiography and Ultrasound. As a reminder, your health records are confidential. Should you need access to your mammography images and/or reports from the Topsham Care Center location, please call 1-800-258-4674 and select option 3 to speak with the Shields Health Medical Record Department.

CT Scan: A CT (computerized tomography) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body. Then, it combines the differently angles together to show a composite image. Because of this, CT scan images provide more detailed and comprehensive image than plain X-rays do.

Why a CT Scan? A CT scan has many uses, but it’s particularly well-suited to quickly examine people who may have internal injuries from car accidents or other types of trauma. It is also used to identity cancers or progression of diseases, stoke and other neurological changes. Invasive procedures may be performed as well to include biopsy, drainage, catheter placements and at CMMC Cryo-Embolizations. CT scans can be performed for head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, spine and many more body areas. Staffed by advanced trained or CT certified CT Technologists. Radiologists with advanced expertise in performing procedures as well as timely and detailed reports. Benefits to our CT services include:

  • Inpatient services – 24/7 availability
  • Outpatient services – 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. by appointment only
  • CMMC CT is accredited through the American College of Radiology
  • CMMC CT also has a specialized distinction for CT Lung Screening with a fully accredited CT lung screening program through the American College of Radiology

Interventional Radiology

Interventional Radiology (IR) uses minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat conditions, while also minimizing risk for infection or complication. Conscious sedation as well as anesthesia is provided when needed. Staffed by highly trained Interventional Radiologic Technologists and IR Registered Nurses. Radiologists with advanced expertise in performing procedures who provide timely and detailed reports. Our IR procedures include, but are not limited to:

  • Port-a-Catheter insertions: This procedure refers to surgically implanting a device beneath the skin to allow long-term access to a patient’s veins with low risk of infection.   Medications are injected into the port, and then the attached catheter spreads them throughout the body. This is often used to deliver chemotherapy in cancer patients.
  • Gastrostomy tube insertions: Commonly known as a feeding tube, this device is inserted through the abdomen to provide nutrition when a patient has trouble eating.
  • Embolizations Venous and Arterial: Allows for catheter-based restriction of blood flow to reduce tumor size or stop a trauma patient bleeding in venous or arterial vessels.
  • Dialysis AVF interventions: Dialysis patients who are having problems with their AV fistula can be treated with various balloons and/or stents to improve their dialysis treatment.  A temporary catheter may be placed for dialysis treatment in patients who may not have an AV fistula.
  • Y90 Yitrium Procedures. Allows the injection of radioactive micro spheres targeted to cancer in the liver and improves/extends the lives for end stage cancer patients.

Mammography

We offer mammography services at Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital. Locations and Services below:

Sam and Jennie Bennett Breast Care Center, Lewiston, ME

Benefits of our Bennett Breast Cancer Center include:

  • 3D Mammography (Tomosynthesis) and Biopsy
  • Bennett is fully accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
  • Bennett has specific accreditation by the American College of Radiology for stereotactic breast biopsies and ultrasound-guided breast biopsies
  • All sites hold certification by the FDA’s Mammography Quality Standards Act
  • All sites accreditation by the American College of Radiology
  • Bennett offers 3D Tomosynthesis and other sites offer Digital Mammography
  • Bennett holds Breast Ultrasound Accreditation through the American College of Radiology
  • All sites dedicated Mammographers and Sonographers on-site daily
  • Team members include Mammographers, Sonographers, Radiologist, a Breast Surgeon, Breast Nurse Practitioner, a RN, and a RN Breast Health Navigator.
  • All sites provide Bone density scans to check for osteoporosis

Rosina Marie Carlise Mammography Suite at Bridgton Hospital

Lariviere Oncology Suite at Rumford Hospital

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine imaging uses small amounts of radioactive material that is typically injected into the bloodstream, inhaled, or swallowed. The material travels through the body and gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. A special camera detects these rays, making it possible to create images of the inside of your body. Identifies early stages of a variety of diseases:

Nuclear medicine provides unique information that often can’t be obtained through other imaging procedures and can identify disease — including cancer, heart disease and gastrointestinal conditions — in the early stages. Team members are highly trained certified Nuclear Medicine Technologists. Radiologists with advanced expertise in performing procedures as well as timely and detailed reports. Benefits to our nuclear medicine services include but are not limited to:

Open-Bore MRI

Using a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses, and a computer, an MRI can produce pictures of virtually all internal body structures including soft tissue, bone, joints, and ligaments.

Central Maine offers the latest MRI technology with a 1.5T high-field, open-bore MRI unit. This unit takes pictures with sharp detail and amazing clarity, while the wide opening provides maximum comfort and prevents claustrophobic feelings for the patient. Staffed by advanced trained MRI Technologists. Radiologists with advanced expertise in performing procedures as well as timely and detailed reports. Benefits to our MRI technology include:

  • More than one foot of headroom in the MRI Unit
  • Short machine length, allowing for exams to be performed with head outside of scanner
  • Faster scan times and shorter breath holds
  • Exceptional image clarity so there are few repeat scans

MRI locations:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – in-house MRI unit
  • Bridgton Hospital – Mobile MRI unit
  • Rumford Hospital – Mobile MRI unit

All units offer the same high level 1.5T platform. This way, all patients in the Central Maine Healthcare system, have access to the same top-of-the-line MRI imaging services.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. Most ultrasounds are done using a handheld probe/transducer outside your body, but some involve placing a probe/transducer inside your body (transvaginal study).

Ultrasounds Versatile and Non-Invasive: What makes ultrasounds so useful is that they can be used for a variety of conditions and reasons. From providing an image of a growing baby to checking a patient’s kidneys to examining the thyroid and soft neck tissue, an ultrasound is one of the most versatile and non-invasive imaging services. ARDMS Sonographers obtain certification in Abdominal/Small Parts and OB/GYN as well as advanced certification in Breast, Neuro and Pediatric. Our Radiologists have advanced expertise in performing US guided procedures as well as detailed and timely reporting. Benefits to our Ultrasound services include:

At CMMC, full accreditation by the American College of Radiology in Diagnostic Ultrasound and for Breast Ultrasound.

At CMMC, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital:

  • Exams offered in a wide range of specialties: obstetrics, gynecology, vascular, etc.
  • Newborn ultrasounds
  • Ultrasound-guided biopsy procedures

X-Ray

X-ray works by using X-ray beams that pass through your body. They are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through. They are often used to see very dense body structures like your bones, making them very helpful in diagnosing and treating fractures and breaks. Staffed by highly trained Radiologic Technologists and Radiologists with advanced expertise in performing procedures as well as timely and detailed reports. Benefits of our X-Ray Services:

  • 24/7 availability
  • Highest standard image quality with lower radiation exposure than conventional technology
  • Fluoroscopy services, which provide real-time images, for upper and lower GI studies, lumbar punctures (spinal tap) and much more.

Emergency Care

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Emergencies happen when you least expect them, but rest assured, Central Maine Healthcare is here when you need us.

We offer three ERs right in the communities we serve – each staffed 24/7 with board-certified emergency physicians and specially trained nurses, plus direct access to specialists, advanced technology and more resources from one of the largest integrated health systems in the state.

From chest pain to trauma, broken bones to stroke, know that expert care is always around the corner.

Find an Emergency Room Near You

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Why Choose Us?

Emergency Medical Transport

Central Maine Healthcare works closely with both local and state emergency transport services to ensure patients throughout our communities receive the critical medical care they need as quickly as possible.

By Ground: Ambulance Service

Emergency Medical Services (EMS), also known as ambulance teams or paramedic services) are our first line of care. They are always at the ready, 24/7, to respond to an emergency or crisis, provide short-term interventions during transport and deliver a patient to a Central Maine ER with both speed and care.

By Air: LifeFlight

Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) in Lewiston is a home base for LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only medical helicopter service. We transport critical trauma patients to CMMC for quick care, and our helicopter pads at Bridgton and Rumford allow rapid transfer of critically ill or injured patients to CMMC. This network helps us provide faster treatment, leading to better outcomes.

Emergency Care FAQ

Central Maine Healthcare is committed to making a trip to the emergency room as stress-free as possible. We’ve prepared this information so you know just what to expect at every step.

What happens when I arrive?
First, you will meet a registrar at the registration desk. The registrar will ask you a few questions and open a record for you in the hospital’s computer system. Then our triage nurse evaluates your symptoms, vital signs and other information to help prioritize your care.

Why did someone else get seen before me, when I got here first? 
The triage process identifies more seriously ill and injured patients who need higher priority care. This means that patients may not be seen by care providers in the same order in which they are registered and triaged.  For example, someone having a heart attack demands immediate attention and will be seen before someone with a fever, cough or even broken bone.

What happens after triage?
You may be escorted to a treatment room or asked to wait in the waiting area, depending upon the seriousness of your illness and available treatment space. Even if space is not immediately available, a care provider may begin any necessary tests, such as blood work or a urine sample.

What happens in the treatment area? 
Once you are in a treatment room, you will be evaluated by a physician, a physician assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP). An emergency nurse will also assist.

Following your evaluation, your care provider may order additional testing and treatments. An emergency nurse will monitor your condition. The nurse will also give you any medications prescribed by the emergency care provider. If you feel your condition is changing, do not hesitate to tell your nurse or other care provider.

How long will the wait be?
Although everyone’s experience is different, the average visit to any CMH Emergency Department is about two and a half hours. Many visits are shorter, and some are longer.

What happens after I am treated? 
When all necessary treatments and procedures are complete and test results are reviewed, your care provider will decide if you will be discharged home, admitted to the CMH system as an inpatient, or transferred to a different hospital.

Patients who are discharged home are provided with complete after-care instructions. If you are advised to contact your primary care provider, it is very important that you do so.

If you have any questions after discharge, please call the Emergency Department you visited:

Central Maine Medical Center: (207) 795-2200
Bridgton Hospital: (207) 647-6070
Rumford Hospital: (207) 369-1051

Ear, Nose and Throat

You might think of your ears, nose and throat as separate parts of your body, but the connection between them is strong. The health of each directly affects the others. That’s why, when you have a cold, you may also have a sore throat, swollen eyes and a cough. And since this grouping includes your brain and everyday functions like swallowing and talking, it’s important to see a provider if you’re experiencing any difficulties.

Specialized Care for a Wide Range of Conditions

Our experts (also called otolaryngologists) specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions, from the common to the complex:

  • Chronic ear infections
  • Sinusitis

Each of these illnesses has different causes, symptoms and treatments, and our highly trained team members will diagnose your specific problem and design your personalized treatment program.

Some ENT treatments happen on an outpatient basis, including minor surgeries such as removing a lesion or performing a biopsy. You might only need a one-time, straightforward remedy, or your diagnosis might involve temporary or even long-term, ongoing treatment. Whatever your situation, your experience with Central Maine Healthcare will always begin with a thorough consultation and progress through follow-up care.

Fax Number: 207-784-2868
Phone Number: 207-784-4539
Click here to find an ENT provider or talk to your primary care provider for more information on services offered at Central Maine Healthcare.

Chronic Ear Infections

If you’re an adult with an ear infection, you might be surprised you have it. After all, we usually conditions as only affecting children. But they do happen at any age, and while they’re rarely dangerous, they are painful.

At Central Maine Healthcare, our highly skilled ENTs can help you find relief. We provide a full range of treatment options, from medications to tube insertion (tympanostomy), a highly common, safe and reliable procedure for patients of all ages.

Symptoms of a Chronic Ear Infection: The clearest sign, in both children and adults, is a feeling of pressure in the ear. If you feel that pressure and it lasts for more than a few days, or if it repeatedly disappears and returns, you could have a chronic ear infection. Other symptoms may include:

  • Mild ear pain
  • Low fever
  • Hearing loss
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Fluid leaking out of ears

Most of these symptoms could indicate other illnesses, so it’s a good idea to see an ENT specialist whenever any of them persist.

Where Ear Infections Live: Your infection might be in your inner, middle or outer ear.

An infection in the inner ear could be more serious, because it sometimes is a symptom of meningitis, an inflammation that can lead to serious or life-threatening complications.

The middle ear, the space behind your eardrum, is where ear infections happen most frequently. A small canal called a Eustachian tube connects your middle ear to your throat and nasal canal, and if that gets blocked by inflammation and fluid build-up, often from a cold, the ear infection sets in.

Outer ear infections, sometimes called “swimmer’s ear,” are rarely serious but they still can be uncomfortable. They occur when water pools in your ear after swimming or bathing. Bacteria can breed in the water, causing an infection.

Treating Persistent Problems: For ear infections that are short-lived and relatively mild, home remedies, like ear drops or holding a warm or cool washcloth to your ear, may help.

When the infection lingers, your Central Maine ENT may prescribe an antibiotic or recommend a minimally invasive tube insertion. In the procedure, your provider inserts tiny tubes into your eardrums so that air can flow into the middle ear again. It only takes about 30 minutes for both ears and is seen as the gold standard for relieving chronic ear infections. For children especially, tubes not only help reduce chronic ear infections, but may also eliminate hearing loss, speech development problems or other complications due to fluid build-up.

Sinusitis

Your sinuses are cavities around your nasal passages. They’re usually filled with air, but when they’re filled with fluid — from allergies, a cold or even a deviated septum — they become blocked and infection sets in. Sinusitis is a painful condition that can hang on for months. If you have symptoms of sinusitis, let Central Maine Healthcare’s ENT specialists provide the skilled care you need. We specialize in all types of treatments, include newer, minimally invasive procedures like balloon sinuplasty (BSP) to help you get faster to a life without pain.

About Sinus Infections: Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus lining, often caused by allergies or the common cold. If the sinus opening becomes blocked due to this swelling, normal mucus drainage may not occur, which in turn can lead to frequent sinus infections and related problems. Common symptoms include:

  • Facial pain or pressure
  • Tenderness and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose and forehead
  • Cough or congestion
  • Difficulty breathing through the nose
  • Dental pain
  • Loss of smell or taste
  • Fatigue

Sinusitis comes in a variety of forms, from acute, which is mild and last for a couple of weeks, to chronic, which can linger for 12 weeks or more. Whatever type you’re dealing with, you’ll want to see a provider, because the infection could also signal meningitis or even an infection in your bones.

Experience the Benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty

Your ENT at Central Maine will assess your symptoms and help you find the right treatment. If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and haven’t responded well to medication, you may be a candidate for balloon sinuplasty. With this simple procedure, a small, flexible balloon catheter is inserted into the inflamed sinus. The balloon is inflated to gently widen the blocked sinus passageway and restore normal drainage. The catheter is then removed, leaving the sinuses open. Balloon sinuplasty offers a variety of benefits compared to traditional treatments:

  • Proven effective: Clinical studies have shown the procedure to be highly successful in relieving sinus symptoms and improving quality of life.
  • Minimally invasive: Unlike conventional sinus surgery, BSP requires no cutting or removal of bone or tissue from the nose. That means significantly less pain and no scarring.
  • Convenient: For certain patients, we can perform the procedure in the comfort of our office with local anesthesia, sparing you a trip to the operating room or the need for complete sedation.
  • Safe: BSP is FDA-approved, with thousands of procedures performed and very low complication rates. It can also be an effective option for children with chronic sinusitis.
  • Fast recovery: Healing time is a little different for everyone.

ENT Head and Neck Surgery

Practice Hours

  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: Closed

About

Our board certified physicians have the highest level of experience with a full range of head and neck conditions and diseases. Our Otolaryngologist are supported by a highly trained clinical, clerical and management team. Otolaryngology is a surgical specialty encompassing the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that are among the most common that afflict all Americans. Our mission is to provide state of the art medical and surgical care for our patients with:

  • Facial, mouth, nasal and neck lesions or growths
  • Nasal or sinus infections and diseases
  • Chronic ear infections and other ear disorders
  • Tonsil and adenoid concerns
  • Snoring and sleep apnea
  • Swallowing, breathing, taste and smell disorders
  • Voice disorders and hoarseness
  • Hearing loss and tinnitus
  • Nosebleeds

Diabetes and Endocrinology

Meet Our Providers

Central Maine Healthcare offers everything you need to take control. Our skilled team — including board-certified endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, registered dietitians and more — will work closely with you to create a personalized wellness plan. You’ll also find a variety of empowering programs, from prevention through ongoing lifestyle support. So, no matter what you’re dealing with, we can help you live the active and healthy life you deserve.

Expert Care for a Full Range of Conditions

We’re experienced in diagnosing and treating a full range of endocrine conditions, including:

Prediabetes
Type 1 and 2 diabetes
Adrenal disorders		Pituitary disorders
Thyroid disorders		Gestational diabetes and reproductive issues

People with diabetes sometimes experience complications from their condition, such as heart, kidney or eye disease, or disorders of the nervous system. Central Maine’s integrated approach allows our diabetes specialists to collaborate with our experts to provide optimal care and the most effective diabetes management strategy.

Education to Empower You: All our efforts are aimed at your wellness and helping you manage your condition on your own. Our team of certified diabetes educators will show you how to boost your self-care skills with hands-on diabetes training and support. Whether you prefer group learning or one-on-one sessions, you’ll learn:

  • Glucose monitoring and insulin pump training
  • A special 8-hour self-management program in Bridgton
  • Stress reduction, relaxation and exercise programs
  • Nutrition and meal planning
  • In-depth medication information
  • Foot and eye care information specifically for diabetes
  • Strategies for feeling and living your healthiest life

Conditions We Treat

If you have an endocrine disorder, it means your body is producing either too many hormones, or too few. Getting your body back in balance is key to your long-term health and wellness. Our board-certified endocrinologists provide specialized care for conditions, including all forms of diabetes. We combine the latest tests and treatment options with the education and day-to-day skills you need to take total control of your health.

Adrenal Disorders

Your adrenal glands are some of the tiniest glands in your body (about the size of a pea), but they’re hard workers. Their job is to produce a variety of hormones that you need to live and function. When the adrenals aren’t working right, you’ll feel the symptoms, but matching the symptom to the right hormone disorder is a complicated process. Fortunately, our endocrinology team at Central Maine Healthcare is highly skilled at identifying adrenal problems and finding the right treatment.

Conditions We Treat: Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and produce several different hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone and sex hormones called androgens. Adrenal disorders signal that your body is producing either too much or too little of some hormone, and the remedies are different for each hormone and disorder.

Cortisol and Cushing’s Syndrome: The most important hormone produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol helps you to burn protein and fat, control your blood sugar, manage stress and regulate your blood pressure. When your body produces too much cortisol, you may develop a disease called Cushing’s syndrome. Symptoms of high cortisol levels include:

Depression
Fatigue
Thin skin		Swelling of hands and feet
Difficulty concentrating		Weight gain, especially around abdomen

Cushing’s syndrome can be caused by taking cortisol-like drugs used to treat asthma and rheumatic arthritis; left untreated, it can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and other disorders. Diagnosing Cushing’s usually involves testing your saliva or urine. The most effective treatment is surgery to remove the adrenal glands, but sometimes treating the symptoms (such as medicine for high blood pressure) is sufficient.

Aldosterone Disorders: Aldosterone is a hormone that helps regulate your sodium and water balance, so when you produce too much or too little, your blood pressure is affected. We need it to help our salivary glands, sweat glands, colon and kidneys work properly; an imbalance can lead to a stroke, heart attack or kidney failure. There are medications to stop overproduction of aldosterone (and some other adrenal hormones), and under-producing usually can be treated with hormone replacement.

Addison’s Disease and Adrenal Insufficiency: With Addison’s disease, the adrenal glands are producing too little cortisol. (Some people are born unable to produce cortisol.) The term “adrenal insufficiency” sometimes points to too little cortisol or aldosterone. Symptoms can be fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. It’s identified with a blood test, and hormone replacement usually is the best treatment. Your adrenal glands also can develop tumors, detected with a blood test, CT scan or other diagnostic tests. Usually they are treated by surgically removing the adrenals.

Gestational Diabetes Care

Gestational diabetes only happens during pregnancy. The placenta makes hormones that can create a buildup of sugar in your blood. Most of the time, your pancreas makes enough of the hormone insulin to help control this issue. If not, higher blood sugar levels may cause gestational diabetes. It’s usually a temporary condition that, but left untreated, it can affect the health of both mother and baby. If you’re pregnant, it’s a good idea to contact your prenatal provider or one of our board-certified endocrinologists and have your glucose tested.

About Gestational Diabetes: There are no outward symptoms of gestational diabetes, but there are a number of factors that can put you at risk:

You are over 25 years old
Diabetes runs in your family
Overweight before pregnancy
High blood sugars without diabetes		History of gestational diabetes
African American, Native American, Asian American or Hispanic

Gestational diabetes happens during the first three months of pregnancy, so it’s vital that you and your provider begin monitoring your glucose as early in the pregnancy as possible. Like other types of diabetes, diagnosing gestational diabetes involves one of several simple and painless blood tests.

Ensuring Your Healthiest Pregnancy: The best way to avoid gestational diabetes is to be as healthy as possible before you get pregnant, including being at a healthy weight. If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your team at Central Maine Healthcare — including your prenatal provider, an endocrinologist, a dietitian and a diabetes educator—will work with you to get it under control.

For most new mothers, glucose levels return to normal very soon after delivery—however, having gestational diabetes puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. As a precaution, your team will check your glucose levels right after you deliver your baby, and again in six weeks to make sure they’re still in the “normal” range and you aren’t developing prediabetes.

Pituitary Disorders

Your pituitary gland is the conductor of your endocrine system, signaling to other glands that they should produce more hormones or slow down. In many cases, it produces hormones for those other glands, and sometimes it gets its signals crossed – often because of a pituitary tumor.

The pituitary is no larger than a pea, sitting at the base of the brain, but with its many functions, identifying a problem calls for experienced professionals. At Central Maine Healthcare, our experts understand the complex connections and balances of the gland to help diagnose any problems you may be having and, if needed, put you on the fast track to treatment.

The Pituitary’s Many Jobs: The pituitary gland communicates with the entire endocrine system, producing hormones that:

Stimulate the adrenal glands
Stimulate the thyroid
Control growth of bones and tissues		Control sexual function
Influence female breasts/milk production
Regulate water loss by the kidneys

Not surprisingly, with so many diverse functions, defects in the pituitary realm create a wide range of symptoms, including:

Weight gain or loss
Constipation
Fatigue
Weakness
Depression		Nausea
Body hair loss or increase
Infertility
Erectile dysfunction
Joint pain		Enlarged hands and feet
Headaches
Loss of vision

Diagnosis and Treatment: To diagnose the problem, your Central Maine Endocrinologist will likely perform a simple blood or urine test to assess hormone levels. Depending on your specific symptoms, we may also recommend an imaging test of the brain, such as CT or MRI.

When the pituitary stops sending signals to other glands to produce their hormones, treatment almost always involves replacing those hormones with medication. The most common types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are:

  • Cortisol replacement in the form of hydrocortisone or similar meds, if the adrenal gland isn’t producing cortisol on its own. We need this hormone on a lot of fronts, most importantly to help us manage our stress.
  • Thyroid hormone replacement. The generic form of this medication is levothyroxine, also sold under the brand name Synthroid.
  • If you have a sex hormone deficiency, your provider may prescribe hormone therapy to replace either testosterone or estrogen, whichever is lacking.
  • Your body needs growth hormone to stimulate height and the growth of your muscles and organs. Children with too little growth hormone need to supplement it so their bodies will reach their full potential in shape and size. Adults also are prescribed growth hormone for muscle and organ development, but it won’t help them grow taller.

If your provider diagnoses a pituitary tumor, surgery may be the first treatment of choice.

Prediabetes

If you have prediabetes, you’re far from alone: more than 85 million Americans have been diagnosed. It’s easy to define — it simply means your blood sugar (glucose) levels are higher than normal — but not so easy to notice because there often aren’t any symptoms. Left untreated, many people develop full diabetes, a chronic condition that can lead to heart disease and other serious complications.

The good news? Through early testing and even simple lifestyle changes, you can prevent or delay prediabetes from progressing. And the experts at Central Maine Healthcare are ready to help you every step of the way.

About Prediabetes: Prediabetes occurs when you have too much glucose in your bloodstream, but your levels aren’t high yet enough to qualify as diabetes. With high glucose, your body isn’t producing enough insulin to process the sugar you’re taking in, so instead of carrying it to your muscles and other tissues for fuel, the sugar is accumulating in your blood.

Should I Get Tested? Your biggest clues to prediabetes are your own general health and personal risk. If any of these risk factors apply to you, it’s a good idea to be tested:

  • Family history: If your parents, siblings or other relatives have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, you’re at risk for developing it yourself.
  • Excess weight: Being overweight is a major risk factor for prediabetes, especially if you have fatty tissue around your waist and lower abdomen.
  • Dietary choices: Eating red meat and processed meat, and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages, is associated with a higher risk of prediabetes.
  • Lack of exercise: The less active you are, the greater your risk of prediabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
  • Age: There can be a cumulative effect to prediabetes, with the risk increasing after age 45. The longer you carry risk factors, the greater your chances of having the disorder.
  • Sleep: If you don’t get enough sleep, or your sleep habits are unusual due to work shifts, you may be at higher risk. Do you snore? If so, you might have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that prevents your organs from getting enough oxygen while you sleep and puts you at even higher risk for prediabetes (among other conditions). The sleep medicine specialists at Central Maine Healthcare offer sleep studies.
  • Cholesterol-related diagnoses: If you have high blood pressure, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, or high triglycerides (“blood fat”), you also should be tested for prediabetes.

Diagnosing & Treating Prediabetes: If you find that you’re at a risk for prediabetes, our endocrinologists can rule out or confirm a diagnosis. We offer a variety of blood tests and glucose screenings at locations close to home. The best treatment for prediabetes is healthy living. Central Maine’s certified diabetes educators and registered dietitians provide hands-on guidance, with strategies to help you be more active, maintain a healthy weight, eat right and more.

Thyroid Disorders

Your thyroid is the small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It acts as your body’s ignition, producing hormones that everything in you, from your hair to your vision, your weight, your ability to relax and concentrate, even whether you feel chilly. Thyroid disorders happen when the gland produces too much or too little hormones. Although the effects can be unpleasant or uncomfortable, most thyroid problems can be managed. The experts at Central Maine Healthcare specialize in diagnosing all types of these conditions and helping restore balance to your hormones, health and life.

Conditions We Treat: Your provider often can tell just by feeling your neck that it’s enlarged or shrunken, indicating that it’s not working properly. That manual exam is always followed up by a blood test to measure your hormone levels and identify which thyroid disorder you might have. They fall into four general categories:

  • Hashimoto’s disease, or hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid, when you’re not producing enough hormones.
  • Graves’ disease, a form of hyperthyroidism, meaning you’re producing too much thyroid hormone.
  • Goiter, a small growth on your thyroid with symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
  • Thyroid nodules, growths on your thyroid that can secrete thyroid hormone (in addition to the hormones your thyroid already is producing), upsetting your hormonal balance.

When your thyroid isn’t working up to par – in other words, when it’s hypo, or underactive—you’re likely to be the coldest person in the room. Your hair may fall out more than usual, your vision can get blurry and your skin might feel dry even when you use lotion. You may find it difficult to memorize simple facts, lose weight or get up the energy to work or have fun. Symptoms of depression can appear.

If you have hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, your symptoms will be the opposite: you will feel hot, perspire without exerting yourself, lose weight and you may feel restless and have difficulty sleeping. You may notice your eyes bulging. These symptoms show that your thyroid is producing too much hormone, and can indicate Graves’ disease, a goiter or nodules. If you have a goiter, you may also notice hoarseness in your voice or difficulty swallowing.

Full Range of Treatments: Our endocrine specialists will work with you to create a treatment plan based on your specific condition and needs.

Hashimoto’s is often treated with a simple medication called Levothyroxine. Your provider probably will start you on a low dosage to see how your symptoms have improved after a few weeks, so it may take some months before the correct dosage can be determined. Anyone with thyroid disorders need to have their hormone levels tested periodically to see if their dosage needs to be increased or scaled back.

For hyperactive disorders, treatment depends on your situation. Thyroid nodules rarely become cancerous, but if a nodule or goiter interferes with your breathing or eating, your provider will recommend iodine to shrink the thyroid, or possibly surgery. If the growth is large enough or malignant, you may need your thyroid removed, in which case you may be prescribed hormone replacement medication. Because the disorders are connected, treatments may overlap.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Care

Most people think of type 1 diabetes as a childhood disease, but the reality is, more adults than children have it, according to the American Diabetes Association. And while type 1 and type 2 behave differently in your body, their symptoms, testing and treatments are almost identical. Both are serious diseases and need to be treated right away—but they also are manageable. Our dedicated team of endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, nutritionists and more combine expert clinical care with hands-on support to keep you healthy and well.

About Diabetes: More than a million Americans have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a chronic (ongoing) condition in which your pancreas has stopped making insulin, which you need to carry glucose (sugar) to the cells throughout your body so it can be used as energy. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin, or it doesn’t make enough. In either case, your organs aren’t getting the fuel they need to run properly. Common diabetes symptoms include:

Constant thirst
Extreme hunger
Frequent need to urinate		Unexplained weight loss
Irritability
Fatigue
Blurred vision

Two other symptoms can also indicate possible type 2 diabetes: darkened skin where your skin creases, such as in the crook of your elbow or around your neck, and “fruity”-smelling breath. If you’re injured, you might also notice that the injuries take longer than usual to heal. Like prediabetes, type 1 and type 1 are diagnosed with a variety of blood tests, and your endocrinologist at Central Maine Healthcare can recommend the best screening for you.

Personalized Treatment & Lifestyle Support: If you are diagnosed with diabetes, our team will work with you to find the best care plan. Central Maine’s certified diabetes educators and nutritionists will arm you with all the information and skills you need to monitor and manage your diabetes with confidence. We also offer number of support groups and classes to keep you up-to-date on the latest advancements.

Your personalized treatment plan may include insulin intake, either by injections or pump — a small, computerized device (about the size of a cell phone) that continually sends insulin into your body. It’s inserted under the skin of your abdomen with a small, flexible tube called a catheter, and you can wear the pump itself on your belt or in a pocket. A lot of patients enjoy using a pump; they don’t have to worry about injecting themselves during the day, the dose is precise and it allows more flexibility in their lifestyle. We’ll also support you with blood sugar monitoring, an eating and exercise plan based on your own tastes and activities you enjoy, and possibly medications, such as a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Empowering You to Live Your Best: A special feature of our treatment program is our Self-Management Program, offered throughout the year. This seminar covers every aspect of diabetes self-care, from recognizing risk factors and symptoms to blood glucose monitoring, foot care and preventing complications.

Contact Us

Central Maine Endocrinology & Diabetes Center
76 High St.
Lewiston, ME
207-795-7520

Breast Health

When it comes to caring for your breast health, Central Maine Healthcare offers a spectrum of services to help screen, diagnose, and treat. From the moment you walk in the door, we’ll be there with you the whole way. Compassionate care is our priority, paired with the newest advances in breast health. You’ll know you’re in great hands with our team.

Prevention: It’s always a good idea to come in for regular screenings, whether your family has a history of breast cancer, or you are simply interested in prevention. We offer full breast health analysis, from tissue screening to genetic testing. We’ll uncover your level of risk and talk about ways to manage your prevention protocol.

Diagnosis: All three of our hospitals offer mammography and breast ultrasound services. These can detect or confirm the presence of cancerous cells or tumors. For more advanced diagnostic needs, patients can visit our specialist care team at the Bennett Breast Center in Lewiston. There, we offer ultrasound-guided and stereotactic core breast biopsies. Surgical biopsies are performed in a surgical suite at the hospital in Lewiston (CMMC).

Treatment: Central Maine Healthcare offers a full range of surgical options, including breast reconstruction. Our treatment services also include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. We also help patients coordinate other treatment modalities, as needed. We offer support services including massage therapy, support groups and assistance with transportation for treatments and follow-up meetings. We can link you to The Dempsey Center, a cancer support center. The Dempsey Center offers a variety of educational and wellness resources for patients, their families and caregivers.

Advanced Diagnosis

In the unlikely event that your annual screening exam reveals a suspicious lump or other tissue changes in your breast, Central Maine Healthcare is here for you. We will hold your hand and offer the most compassionate support through the whole process. To ensure that we get the proper diagnosis, we offer several diagnostic options. We value the newest research and technology, which allows us to provide the best care for our patients.

Breast Ultrasound: We know that ultrasound is an important tool in breast disease detection, so we offer it at all our hospital locations. Breast ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves to scan the breast to locate, measure, and evaluate abnormal changes or lesions found on a mammogram. Ultrasound can determine if a breast lump is solid, which is indicative of a benign or malignant tumor, or is filled with fluid, which indicates that it is a cyst, a benign condition.

Breast Ductogram: A mammography procedure called a ductogram finds breast changes and looks for small growths in a breast duct, to determine what is causing clear or bloody discharge from the nipple. Ductography is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that involves inserting a tiny catheter tip into the duct. A small amount of liquid is then inserted then tracked through a mammogram. This helps detect abnormal growths in the tissue. Most of the time, the growth is a papilloma which is a benign growth in the lining of the breast duct.

Breast MRI: We offer MRIs to our patients at CMMC. MRIs help with further detection of breast cancer once suspicious tissue or growths have been identified. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be recommended in combination with mammography for women with dense breasts and with a high risk of hereditary breast cancer. Our MRI features the largest diameter bore for patient comfort and produces detailed and high-quality images. It’s a painless procedure. Patients lie comfortably in the MRI unit for a short time, as images are produced.

Breast Biopsy: CMH offers comprehensive breast biopsy services at The Bennett Breast Center, which is located at CMMC in Lewiston. Our biopsy services include care for a range of issues. The following procedures are performed at our Breast Center:

  • Breast cyst aspiration: A simple procedure of removing fluid from a cyst using a fine needle. We usually use ultrasound to guide this procedure. A cyst is a fluid-filled, non-malignant growth that is aspirated only if is painful or very large.
  • Ultrasound and stereotactic core breast biopsy: Performed to obtain tissue to send to pathology for testing. It is minimally invasive and done using either ultrasound or digital mammography to guide the procedure.
  • Needle localization: The insertion of a fine wire into an area of concern prior to an open surgical procedure. This guides the surgeon when a breast lesion can’t be felt.
  • Sentinel node evaluation: A procedure done to guide the surgeon in removing the important lymph nodes in a patient undergoing breast cancer surgery. This involves the injection of a small amount of radioactive solution into the breast which is then filtered out by the key lymph nodes that act as gatekeepers. The lymphatic system carries the dye to the first lymph node in the sentinel node pathway. The injection is done on the day of surgery in the nuclear medicine department. The surgeon uses a special detector to locate and remove the identified node(s) for testing by pathology.

Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction

When you’re facing a diagnosis of breast cancer, Central Maine Healthcare is here to guide you through the process of healing. Through our programs at The Bennett Breast Center, we offer the latest in surgical and reconstructive services to ensure you can kick your cancer in the smoothest way possible. Our team is multidisciplinary to make sure we offer comprehensive services and address all your needs, including compassionate support.

Your Experience Matters: Breast cancer patients meet with breast cancer surgeons to discuss the best treatment plans. Our surgeons are part of a team that includes radiologists, pathologists, and medical and radiation oncologists. Our team also includes plastic surgeons, who work with patients who choose to have reconstructive surgery following breast surgery. As a team, healthcare providers communicate with each other to give each patient individualized, focused care. We also have a Nurse Navigator who an advocate for patients. This person is available to help patients with other parts of the process, such as understanding financial and health insurance requirements, the day-today-impact of treatments, and other needs as they arise.

Breast Cancer Surgery: Depending on what kind of cancer you’re dealing with, we will recommend various surgeries. The standard option for breast cancer is a mastectomy, or removal of the breast tissue. How extensive this surgery needs to be is individual and will be customized to your situation. We’ll walk you through the process of procedures and risks, ensuring that you feel supported the whole way. Here are a few of the various types of mastectomy surgeries you might encounter in your conversations with your provider:

  • Lumpectomy (Partial Mastectomy): We’ll remove the tumor and just the immediately surrounding tissue. This will ensure you’re breast tissue is still mostly intact.
  • Total (Simple) Mastectomy: For the serious cancer case, we’ll remove the whole breast including the nipple.
  • Modified Radical Mastectomy: When the cancer has started to spread, we will remove the whole breast, nipple, and the lymph nodes under the arm.
  • Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: For this surgery, we’ll remove the breast tissue while preserving the nipple and areola, giving the breast a more natural look when surgery is completed.
  • Skin-Sparing Mastectomy: This surgery option leaves the skin on the breast but removes the skin on the area where the tumor was removed as well as the nipple and areola.

Education and Support

Women’s health is important stuff and at Central Maine Healthcare, we want to make sure you’ve got the health resources you need to always feel your best. That’s why we offer classes, events, online information, and one-on-one support to make sure you get your questions answered and your wellness leveled up. We’re here to make sure you feel empowered.

Educational Classes and Events: We know that you want to be an active participant in creating a life full of health and joy, which is why we regularly hold classes that will teach you how to do just that. Whether you’re planning a birth, are trying to stop smoking, or want to get your fitness back on track, we’ve got a class for that! Our events are focused on getting you moving or helping you create safety for your family. You can choose to participate in events such as getting your infant care seat checked (highly recommended) or even learn infant CPR to make sure you’re already prepared for those rare emergencies.

Guides and Online Classes: Choose to sign up to receive our guides for birth, lactation, and parenting and even get online for more resources. We make learning accessible and something you can take home with you after your appointments. We’re happy to discuss any of the things you learn in our custom guides, as well, ensuring that you know exactly how to care for yourself and your baby.

Consult Our Dieticians and Join Our Fitness Programs: If you have a health need that requires dietary intervention, talk with your provider about scheduling an appointment with one of our board-certified dieticians. These skilled nutritionists can help you design a nutritional program that fits your health condition and will help you improve your health. Join up with our fitness program in partnership with the YMCA to learn more about caring for your body through exercise. We’d love to help you feel fit and strong again!

Understanding Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer
Presented by:  Dr. Nicholette Erickson

Understanding Lymphedema and How to Manage It
Presented by: Rachel Maier, Physical Therapist

Mammography

Screening for breast cancer is one of the most important preventative actions you can take to ensure you’re healthy for life. At Central Maine Healthcare, we want to ensure that you get the proper screening while also making the experience as comfortable as possible. We work with the latest techniques and technology to meet our goal of quality and compassionate care for every patient that walks through our door.

Mammograms are Essential for Breast Health: Our digital mammography systems provide our patients with the highest quality of care in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer. Digital mammography allows the radiologist to view and manipulate the images on high-resolution computer monitors to enhance visualization of the breast tissue.

Screening Recommendations: An annual screening mammogram, beginning at age 40, is recommended for women who have not had any breast abnormalities. A diagnostic mammogram is given to a patient with breast changes such as lumps, pain, or nipple discharge. This type of appointment requires a referral from your primary care provider.

Preparing for a Mammogram: Be sure not to use deodorants cremes or powders under your arms or near your breast on the day of your mammogram. Consider wearing a two-piece outfit, since you will only need to remove your top. Tips to make the exam even easier: reduce caffeine consumption one to two weeks prior to your appointment if you have tender breasts. If you are still menstruating, schedule your appointment about 10 days after the first day of your period.

Screening Accessibility: Accessibility is important to us, which is why we offer mammography at all three of our hospitals. This makes it convenient for you to schedule and attend your annual screening! For more advanced diagnostics, The Bennett Breast Center at our hospital in Lewiston is ready to help. Within just a short drive, you have access to all the breast health care that you might need, from preventative screenings, to diagnostics, to treatment. We care and want to support you in your breast health journey.

CMH Imaging Locations

Central Maine Medical Center
300 Main Street, Lewiston, ME  04240
Main Hospital: 207-795-0111
MRI Scheduling: 1-800-258-4674
Directions

Bridgton Hospital
10 Hospital Drive, Bridgton, ME  04009
Main Hospital: 207-647-6000
Imaging: 207-647-6092
Directions

Rumford Hospital
420 Franklin Street, Rumford, ME  04276
Main Hospital: 207-369-1000
Imaging: 207-369-1131
Directions

Topsham Care Center
105 Topsham Fair Mall Road, Topsham, ME  04086
Main TCC: 207-798-6300
Imaging: 207-798-6370
Directions

Shields Health Care Group offers state-of-the-art imaging, including: MRI, PET/CT, Mammography, CT, Echocardiography and Ultrasound

Cardiovascular services

Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI) brings skilled medical specialists and innovative treatments to the people of central Maine and beyond, including rural areas whose residents previously had limited access to high-quality care. We provide a wide array of services ranging from conservative medical care and rehabilitation to surgery for common, and sometimes complex, heart and vascular conditions. We also focus heavily on educating our community and preventing disease before it develops.

Our cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and other skilled professionals provide specialty care to inpatients at CMHVI and Central Maine Medical Center. Outpatient care is delivered from CMHVI’s Lewiston offices and at other locations throughout central and western Maine.

We are also committed to preventing stroke and providing rapid, appropriate treatment to stop or mitigate its debilitating effects. Recognized by The American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI for its demonstrated expertise and commitment to treating patients with chest pain.

Meet our providers

Ralph’s story

“Ralph and his wife were driving home on a January day when he began sweating profusely and felt sick to his stomach. Ralph sped up and crossed into the opposite lane. “Debbie started to holler for me to slow down and that was the last thing I heard before passing out,” Read More…

About Us: Cardiovascular Services

Our cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other skilled professionals provide specialty care to inpatients at CMHVI and Central Maine Medical Center. Outpatient care is delivered from CMHVI’s Lewiston offices and at other locations throughout central and western Maine.

Our services include cardiac angioplasty and open-heart surgery, as well as many other advanced procedures. CMHVI also provides a special recovery unit for patients, for compassionate and specialized care. As part of our commitment to cardiac and vascular health, CMHVI sponsors wellness and prevention programs throughout the region.

Mission

The Central Maine Healthcare Heart and Vascular Institute’s mission is to provide comprehensive, integrated services from prevention and screening to treatment and rehabilitation that are high-quality, efficient, evidence-based, and patient and family-focused.

The Institute’s vision is to care for the heart health needs of the population we serve.

The Institute’s goal is to improve the health status of individuals who live and work in our region.