Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Services

Electrophysiology

If your heart beats too quickly, too slowly or irregularly, you may be experiencing a condition known as arrhythmia, which is caused by problems with the electrical system that regulates your heartbeat. When the electrical system in your heart doesn’t work well, it can lead to potentially fatal complications, such as stroke.

At Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI), we focus on the diagnosis and treatment of problems with the heart’s electrical system, such as arrhythmia, in our state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Lab. The Lab offers a range of diagnostic testing and treatment options to help patients feel better and reduce the risk of serious health complications that can result from problems with the heart’s electrical system.

Our electrophysiologists can prescribe medication or perform various procedures (including implanting medical devices) that can get it back in the right beat.

Diagnostic Testing

When you visit our state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Lab, our cardiac specialists will take your medical history and perform a physical exam. They’ll also perform one or more of the following diagnostic tests to learn more about your heartbeat.

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test uses small sensors (electrodes) attached to your chest and arms to record electrical signals as they travel through your heart. 
  • Echocardiogram: In this noninvasive test, sound waves are used to produce a video image of your heart in motion.
  • Holter monitor: This portable ECG device is carried in your pocket or worn on a belt or shoulder strap. It records your heart’s rhythms for 24 hours or longer, giving your provider a prolonged look at any problems.
  • Transtelephonic monitor: For infrequent arrhythmias or arrhythmias that come and go, this monitor attaches to your arms, wrists or fingers for a month or two. It records and stores information about your heart’s electrical system, which can be transmitted to your provider. 

Treatment

If our tests show that you have arrhythmia or other types of electrical system problems in your heart, you and your provider will discuss the best approach to managing your symptoms and reducing your risk of complications. Treatments may include:

  • Medication: Drugs used to treat electrical problems such as arrhythmias include anti-arrhythmia drugs, drugs that control heart rate and blood thinners.
  • Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): AnICD is a tiny device implanted through a small incision in the collarbone during a minimally invasive surgery. The system includes a palm-sized device with electrical leads that connects to your heart to restore a normal rhythm. Recovery is quick; though some patients may stay overnight. 
  • Cardioversion: Cardioversion is a medical procedure for treating an abnormally fast or irregular heartbeat. Most commonly used for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or ventricular tachycardia, cardioversion sends an electrical impulse to the heart muscle, restoring normal heart rhythm. Cardioversion is usually performed as a scheduled treatment and may be repeated if the arrhythmia returns. 
  • Radiofrequency Ablation: For some heart arrhythmia conditions, providers recommend a procedure called ablation. During an ablation procedure, small areas of the heart muscle are purposely destroyed to create scars — called lesions – that improve the heart’s function by correcting a faulty electrical process. 
  • Catheter Ablation: This is a procedure that uses intense cold or high-frequency electrical energy to disrupt an abnormal heart rhythm. Ablation is performed surgically or with a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin or neck and guided into the heart. Your provider uses the catheter for the ablation, which is done either with intense cold (cryo-ablation) or with high-frequency energy (radio-frequency ablation). Some patients require a pacemaker after an ablation is performed. 
  • Surgical Ablation: This procedure can be done with cryo-ablation, radio-frequency ablation, microwave ablation, ultrasound energy or laser energy. There are two types of surgical ablation: Minimally invasive via small chest incisions or during open-heart surgery. 

Coronary Bypass Surgery

While this surgical procedure doesn’t cure CAD, it can ease many of the symptoms and reduce the risk of heart attack and dying of heart disease.

Why Do You Need Coronary Bypass Surgery?

You may need coronary bypass surgery if:

  • You have more than one blocked artery and the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, isn’t functioning well
  • You have severe chest pain caused by CAD
  • Your blocked artery can’t be fixed by other methods, such as angioplasty and stent placement [link to angioplasty and stent page], or you had another procedure and the artery became blocked again
  • Your left main coronary artery is severely narrowed or blocked

You may also have coronary bypass surgery in the event of a heart attack if other treatment options are not working.

Getting Ready for Coronary Bypass Surgery

Before your surgery, you may need to have several diagnostic tests, including blood work, a chest X-ray and/or an angiogram, that will give the surgical team more information about your blocked arteries.

Additionally, you may be provided with specific dietary, medication and exercise restrictions prior to being admitted to the hospital.

You’ll also want to pack a bag with any of the personal items, such as medications, clothing, toothbrush and toothpaste, you will want during your hospital stay.

What to Expect During Coronary Bypass Surgery

Surgery typically takes between three and six hours. It requires general anesthesia, which means a breathing tube will be placed in your mouth to breathe for you during and immediately after the surgery.

The surgeon will cut a 6- to 8-inch incision in the middle of your chest to open up your chest cavity. Once the chest is open, the heart is temporarily stopped with medication and a heart-lung machine takes over to circulate blood to the body.

The surgeon will take a section of a healthy blood vessel, called a graft, typically from inside the chest wall or lower leg, and attach it to the blocked artery so blood flow is redirected around the blocked artery.

When the graft is in place, the heart-lung machine will be turned off and your heartbeat will be restored. The surgeon will wire your chest bone closed and close up the incision in your chest with stitches or staples.

Recovering From Coronary Bypass Surgery

After surgery, you can expect to spend a few days in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. The breathing tube will remain in your throat until you are awake and able to breathe on your own. You’ll likely have chest tubes, a catheter and IVs giving you medication, while other equipment monitors your heart rate and oxygen saturation levels.

You will begin cardiac rehabilitation [Link to: https://old.cmhapps.org/heart-and-vascular/heart-and-vascular-services/cardiac-rehabilitation-program] while in the hospital. Your therapist will give you exercises to do on your own after you are discharged. They will also discuss important diet and lifestyle changes you will need to make in order to have a successful recovery.

As long as there are no complications, you can expect to be in the hospital for around a week. Total recovery will take between six and 12 weeks.

You will continue to be monitored in our outpatient clinic upon discharge.

Cardiovascular Surgery

Services Offered at Central Maine Cardiovascular Surgery

Central Maine Cardiovascular Surgery offers consultations and surgical services for:

  • Treatment of coronary artery disease
  • Valvular disorders
  • Lung nodules and lung cancer
  • Esophageal disorders, malignant and benign
  • Gastroesophageal reflux
  • Mediastinal masses
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Abdominal aneurysm
  • Claudication
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Venous ulcer
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Varicose veins

Laboratory, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine

Central Maine Cardiovascular Surgery routinely reports the results of all laboratory, ultrasound and nuclear medicine services to our patients. If you do not hear from the office by phone or by mail within 14-21 days following your testing, please contact the office.

Contact Us

Central Maine Cardiovascular Surgery
60 High Street
Lewiston, Maine 04240
207-795-8260

Emergencies – For any life-threatening emergency, always call 911!

In the case of a non-life threatening emergency, patients can contact the office any time by calling 795-8260.

CMCS’s answering service connects patients with the practice’s on-call provider for after-hours emergencies.

Prescriptions

  • Patients should ask their pharmacy to check with CMCS about a refill.
  • Patients are asked to plan ahead so they don’t run out of medication.
  • Patients calling CMCS for a refill are asked to have the phone number of the pharmacy ready.
  • Routine prescriptions are filled within 24 to 48 hours.
  • Medications will not be refilled after-hours, on weekends, or on holidays.

Insurance and Business Office Information

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery involves the organs in the thoracic cavity or chest – most often, the heart and lungs. At Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI), we know that having cardiothoracic surgery can be worrying. But we work closely with you to make sure you fully understand your surgery and are as comfortable as possible before, during and after your operation takes place.

We provide you with the best cardiothoracic technology and resources available. Our “smart” cardiothoracic operating rooms include special cabling, data connections, light booms and display screens that can be upgraded to accommodate emerging technologies, including voice recognition and robotics.

Get Blood Flowing Again with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery 

If you have one or more blocked coronary arteries, your heart may not be getting enough of the blood and oxygen it needs. Bypass surgery can create new pathways for blood to reach your heart. Also known as coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG (pronounced “cabbage”), bypass surgery is open-heart surgery that requires general anesthesia.

During conventional bypass surgery, which is done through an incision in your breastbone (sternum), your surgical team stops your heart with medication and uses a heart-lung machine to oxygenate and circulate your blood. Your surgeon removes a piece of a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest wall to use as a graft to create a new path for blood flow around a blocked artery. One end of the healthy graft is sewn to the blood vessel just below the blocked artery. The other end is sewn above the blocked artery. Blood can then flow around the blocked area, allowing your blood to move more freely through your coronary arteries, lowering the risk of heart attack.

Heart Valve Replacement and Repair

If you have a diseased heart valve, your cardiologist may recommend heart valve replacement or repair.  During valve surgery, your surgical team stops your heart with medication and uses a heart-lung machine to oxygenate and circulate your blood. Your surgeon removes the damaged valve and sews a new valve in place. The replacement valve may come from an organ donor, but it is more likely to be a mechanical valve made of plastic and metal. Sometimes diseased valves can be repaired – for example, if calcium deposits on the valve can be removed, the valve may be surgically reshaped, allowing it to close more effectively. If the valve opening is too big, it sometimes can be tightened with stitches.

Esophagectomy

An esophagectomy is a surgical procedure where your esophagus – the tubular structure connecting the mouth and stomach – is partially or completely removed and replaced with a portion of your stomach or colon. The procedure may be necessary due to cancer, trauma, ingestion of caustic substances or spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (usually due to severe vomiting). In some instances, the surgery can be performed in a minimally invasive or laparoscopic/thoracoscopic procedure.

Other Thoracic and Lung Surgery

We offer a range of other thoracic and lung surgical procedures as well. We work closely with pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists and primary care providers in the region. Among the procedures we provide are:

  • Pulmonary resection: Removal of part of the lung 
  • Mediastinal tumors: Removal of thymoma, teratoma, nerve tumors 
  • Tracheal and bronchial surgery: Removal of part of the trachea or bronchus 
  • Video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): Also known as endoscopic thoracic surgery or minimally invasive thoracic surgery (thoracoscopy) 

Many thoracic surgical procedures are performed using small incisions and advanced video-assisted techniques, which reduces post-operative discomfort, decreases length of hospitalization and returns people to normal activities sooner. Medical issues often treated using these techniques are:

  • Pleural effusion: Fluid around the lungs or lung biopsy (disease diagnosis) 
  • Lobectomy for cancer of the lung: Early lung cancers can often be removed using minimally invasive techniques 
  • Mediastinal tumors: Some tumors and cysts can be removed endoscopically 
  • Pneumothorax (lung collapse): Removal of the leaky area of the lung. (Pleurodesis, a procedure that uses medications to seal your lung to your chest wall, can usually be done endoscopically.) 
  • Hyperhidrosis treatment: Stops excessive sweating, by removing part of the sympathetic nerve system. This procedure is also effective for patients with other upper extremity problems, including reflex sympathetic dystrophy and Raynaud’s disease. 

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Central Maine Heart & Vascular Institute (CMHVI) cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs joined together to offer a unified program that ensures exceptional care for all of our patients. Each program has some differences, but by cross training the team members and combining their knowledge and skills, we have developed a stronger program for patients requiring rehabilitation.

The combined cardiopulmonary rehabilitation team guides each patient and their family/significant other in an effort to achieve a good quality of life. The program is held on the first floor of the Young wing in the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department.

Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Programs

CMHVI’s cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs are accredited by the AACVPR (American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation). For more than twenty five years the CMHVI’s Cardiac Rehab team members have been active in helping members of our community take control of their cardiovascular health.

For the Cardiac Patient

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help heart patients recover by developing an individualized plan that provides evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and other health related areas as needed. Cardiac rehabilitation has a positive effect in the quality of life that patients can achieve when recovering from:

  • Heart attack
  • Angina
  • Coronary artery angioplasty or stents
  • Open heart surgery such as coronary bypass or valve surgery
  • Heart failure
  • Heart transplantation

Benefits of the Cardiac Program

Cardiac rehabilitation is proven to make a significant difference in the lives of cardiac patients through decreasing risks, increased strength and stamina, and improved self-confidence and well-being.

Mended hearts™ is a patient run support group affiliated with the American Heart Association and dedicated to inspiring hope for heart disease patients and their families. Mended Hearts™ offers support and encouragement through its visiting program, monthly meetings and educational forums. The chapter meets at 5:00pm on the second Thursday of each month. For more information call: (207) 795-8230.

For the Pulmonary Patient

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a medically supervised program. It includes an exercise and educational piece that is designed to help all patients with lung disease improve their quality of life. This program provides great benefits to patients with:

  • COPD
  • Emphysema
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Other lung conditions

To enter the program, you must have lung disease or other medical condition that causes you to have an abnormal breathing test, and difficulty breathing when performing necessary daily activities. Participants enjoy the benefits of both an individualized exercise routine and group educational sessions.

Benefits of the Pulmonary Program

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps you to understand and manage your disease and be less tired and breathless while performing daily tasks.

Better Breathers Club

CMMC is host to the local Better Breathers Club, which is a welcoming support group for individuals with COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, and their caregivers.  The group assists others to learn better ways to better cope with lung disease while getting the support of others in similar situations. Led by a trained facilitator, these in-person adult support groups give you the tools you need to live the best quality of life you can.

Happy Hearts & Lungs

Upon completion of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, many patients choose to sustain the improvements made in their health by enrolling in our happy hearts & lungs program, housed in the YMCA at CMMC for a monthly fee.

Cardiopulmonary Referrals

To enter our cardiopulmonary program you will need to obtain a referral from your provider; however, we encourage you to call us at (207) 795-8225 for assistance in accessing our services or to answer any questions you may have about our program.

Anticoagulation Management

When it comes to heart medication, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that providers now have more medications than ever before to manage various types of heart and vascular diseases and conditions. The bad news is that because these are strong drugs with occasional side-effects, patients may need expert care in managing their heart drugs and calibrating their dosages, especially if they take multiple medications.

Central Maine Healthcare’s Anticoagulation Management Clinic  in Lewiston is here to help. We work with people who require medical management of heart risks and conditions. Our nurse practitioners monitor medications and their side effects so that you can feel your best and optimize your heart health. If a certain medication is causing uncomfortable side effects, we can work with you to find a medication strategy that works better for you.

To learn more about our Anticoagulation Management Clinic, call 800-760-6622.

Medications for Your Heart

When your provider prescribes heart medications, you may have to take them for the rest of your life, so it’s important to find dosages and types of drugs that maximize health benefits while minimizing side-effects.

Sometimes, switching from one type of a drug to another within a class of drugs can eliminate side-effects. For example, if warfarin (Coumadin) doesn’t work for you, heparin, another type of anticoagulant, may be a better choice. The nurse practitioners at in our Anticoagulation Management Clinic can help with that. We assist patients manage some of the following common heart medications:

Anticoagulants:
These medications are known as blood thinners, although they don’t actually make your blood thinner. Instead, they lower your blood’s ability to clot, which can help prevent blood clots from forming. Your provider may prescribe anticoagulants if you are at risk of stroke or to treat certain types of heart, blood vessel or lung conditions. Some common anticoagulants include warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin.

Antiplatelet drugs:
These medications help prevent blood clots from forming by stopping platelets from sticking together. (Platelets are tiny disc-shaped substances in the blood that help form clots.) Antiplatelet drugs may be recommended (aspirin) or prescribed for people with who have angina or who have had a heart attack or stroke or who have had a stent implanted in the coronary artery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Some common antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix) and dipyridamole.

ACE inhibitors:
These drugs help expand your blood vessels to allow blood to flow more easily. They are prescribed for people with high blood pressure or heart failure. Some common ACE inhibitors include benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten) and enalapril (Vasotec).

Beta blockers:
These drugs help lower your heart rate, which helps your heart beat more slowly and less forcefully. They are prescribed for people with high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), angina and previous heart attacks. Some common beta blockers include acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin) and bisoprolol (Zebeta).

Calcium channel blockers:
These medications interrupt the flow of calcium into your heart and blood vessels, resulting in a reduction of the strength of your heartbeat and a relaxation of your blood vessels. They are prescribed for people with high blood pressure, angina and certain types of arrhythmia. Some common calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac) and felodipine (Plendil).

Cholesterol-lowering medications:
These drugs lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood, especially LDL (“bad” cholesterol). Some common cholesterol-lowering medications include statins such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor), nicotinic acids such as lovastatin (Advicor) and cholesterol absorption inhibitors: such as ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin).

Digitalis preparations:
These medications help your heart beat more forcefully. They are prescribed for heart failure and some types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. A common digitalis preparation is lanoxin.

Diuretics:
These drugs help remove water and sodium from your blood, which relieves pressure on your heart and helps reduce swelling in your ankles and legs. They’re prescribed for people with high blood pressure and edema (swelling). Some common diuretics are chlorthalidone (Hygroton) and furosemide (Lasix).

Vasodilators:
These medications, which are also known as nitrates or nitroglycerine, help relax your blood vessels while increasing blood flow to your heart. They are prescribed for angina. Some common vasodilators include isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) and nesiritide (Natrecor).

About Us: Cancer Care

Our Focus is Offering the Best Cancer Care and Treatments

The Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center is committed to providing high-quality care close to home. In order to offer the best care available, our interdisciplinary team of caregivers continually researches new technologies, meets regularly to discuss case presentations, uses data from the cancer registry to monitor patient outcomes.

Cancer Registry

The Cancer Registry is a database of information about cancer patients. It helps providers and researchers understand what may cause cancer and the most effective ways to prevent and treat it. Hospitals across the country and around the world have joined together to collect and share data about individual cancer cases and what their outcome is.

Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center also participates in this registry and reports cancer statistics for our health system. Our Cancer Registry includes a data system that collects, manages and analyzes cancer patient data. Our data is available to all cancer researchers nationwide and internationally.

The data is also used at CMMC to educate medical staff, analyze treatment results, and evaluate the quality of care. The data system is managed by a Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR).

The Registry collects updated information through hospital, provider and patient contact. We ask for our patients’ help in keeping information current. All cancer patient information is treated with confidentiality; cancer data is used without personal identifiers.

Contact Us


Radiation Oncology
17 High Street – Suite 4
Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: 207-795-2440
Fax: 207-795-2444

Surgical and GYN Oncology
17 High Street – Suite 1A
Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: 207-786-1860
Fax: 207-786-1861

Hematology-Oncology and Infusion Center
17 High Street – Suite 6
Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: 207-795-2935

Breast Health Center at Central Maine Healthcare
17 High Street – Suite 2
Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: 207-344-2921
Fax: 207-344-0621

Trevor’s Story

Today, Trevor Maxwell is feeling stronger than he has in a long time. Thanks to the comprehensive oncology care provided at Topsham Care Center and Central Maine Medical Center, Trevor’s two “big, complicated” surgeries to remove cancerous tumors from his liver have given him his life back as a husband and a father.

Alissa’s Story

Alissa has worked in the Medical Imaging department at Bridgton Hospital since 2002. As part of her responsibilities, she often helps women with their mammograms and works closely with radiologists to secure additional images as needed. In 2014, after her own annual mammogram, Alissa was called back by the radiologist for additional imaging. Following a biopsy, at only 42 years old with two children, Alissa was now a breast cancer patient.

Therapy Specialty Programs

Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Therapists use a range of treatment approaches to help regain function.  Services include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and customized home programming instruction for patients recovering from:

Sprains and strains
Tendonitis
Bursitis		Amputation
Arthritis
Headache		Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

Back and Spine Care: Physical therapists with specialized training will guide the patient’s active recovery and help them acquire skills for self-management of their spinal conditions:

  • Manual skills for symptom relief
  • Therapeutic exercise instruction addressing posture, range of motion, flexibility, strength and coordination issues
  • Functional restoration and conditioning programming that assists to resume activities of daily living, work activities or recreation
  • Creating a plan for life at home, to optimize recovery and prevent aggravation of the spine problem

Post Surgical Rehab – Continuing Rehab after Hospitalization: Our therapists provide outpatient rehab services to patients after hospital discharge. We support patients following:

Total joint replacement
Surgery for sports injuries
Spine surgery		Trauma rehabilitation
Hand/upper extremity surgery
Reconstructive surgery

CMTS therapists communicate closely with the patient’s surgeon to support an optimal outcome for the patient.

Balance and Vestibular Program: This program seeks to decrease dizziness and improve balance for those who feel unsteady or experience dizziness, positional vertigo, lightheadedness or spinning, or may have experienced a fall.

Work Injuries: CMTS therapists offer services to support the injured worker, which include:

  • Acute injury treatment focused on active, timely recovery
  • Ergonomic review/work risk analysis
  • Education and training to prevent re-injury
  • Work conditioning, restoring abilities to perform work

Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy: CMTS therapists support a comprehensive range of hand and upper extremity conditions including:

Repetitive motion disorders
Post fracture of hand, wrist/upper extremity
Sports injury of hand, wrist/upper extremity
Sprains and strains		Burns
Trauma rehabilitation
Hand/upper extremity surgery
Reconstructive surgery

Treatment services include:

Splinting
Pain management
Joint protection
Post surgical care
Therapeutic exercise to regain range of motion and strength
Work simulation/job task analysis
Scar management
Desensitization
Customized adaptive equipment to support activities of daily living

Lymphedema Management: Lymphedema is the abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid under the surface of the skin, causing swelling in the limbs. We focus on:

Controlling or reducing lymphedema symptoms
Decreasing pain		Increasing independence in self-care
Improving mobility
Long term self-management

Treatment consists of:

Lymphatic massage
Compression bandaging
Exercise		Skin care training
Compression garment fitting

Pelvic Floor Rehab – Bladder Control–Incontinence Management: Physical therapists with specialized training provide treatment and training support to women, men and children:

Urinary and fecal incontinence
Urinary urgency
Urinary frequency
Constipation
Overactive bladder		Pelvic pain: difficulty with sitting, pain with intercourse and pain of the hip, lower back and lower abdomen
Pregnancy/postpartum incontinence/pain
Pelvic organ prolapse

Specific treatment and training is identified for the individual patient:

Bowel and bladder training
Biofeedback
Soft tissue mobilization		Pelvic floor muscle training
Planning and support for self-management at home

Swallowing Therapy: Speech pathologists partner with primary care providers to assess swallowing functioning and develop a treatment plan:

  • Exercises to improve muscle control and strength
  • Compensatory strategy training to compensate for deficits
  • Facial, oral and pharyngeal exercise in conjunction with electrical stimulation
  • Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VitalStim) to retrain swallow
  • Patient training regarding diet consistency strategies to reduce health risks
  • Food preparation instruction

The goal of swallow/dysphagia therapy is to reduce the risk of aspiration and improve swallowing function, allowing the patient to consume food and liquid in a variety of consistencies. Patients may benefit if they have experienced:

Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Head and neck cancer
Neurological diseases		Respiratory diseases
Facial paralysis
Post polio syndrome

Adult Speech/Language Therapy: Speech language pathologists evaluate and treat adult speech and language disorders, including:

Voice: Vocal changes, vocal cord dysfunction and difficulty with vocal quality and loudness. The goal of therapy is to increase optimal vocal pitch, appropriate loudness, resonance, optimizing breathing style, pacing for speech production and vocal hygiene programming.

Fluency: The goal is to decrease or eliminate fluency difficulties, excessive upper body/ laryngeal tension and provide fluency-enhancing strategies.

Dysarthria and Apraxia: The goal of therapy is to develop functional speech strategies and/or determine if speech-based therapy tools would improve communication, which may include technical augmentative communication devices or speech generating devices. Therapy supports communication skills for home, work and community environments.

Pediatric Speech/Language Therapy: Speech therapists work closely with parents, pediatricians and CDS to evaluate and treat all aspects of early communication skills, including comprehension of spoken language, verbal expression, pragmatics/social language skills, articulation/sound production skills, fluency and voice. The goal is to help children attain the communication skills required in education and social settings.

Osteoporosis Program: Therapists design safe exercise and activity programs to improve an individual’s strength, balance and overall function. A customized home program is designed to help decrease bone loss and lower the risk of falls or fractures.

Neurological Rehabilitation: Our team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists work closely with inpatient rehab facilities to support a smooth transition to the outpatient phase of care. Therapy is focused on supporting the patient’s continued effort to regain function:

Brain injury
Post-concussive syndrome
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease		Multiple sclerosis
Spinal cord injury
Other neurological conditions

Rehab programming focuses on enhancing challenging areas of function:

Self-care
Mobility
Cognition		Balance
Communication
Swallowing

You may require a combination of multiple therapies to find relief and restore abilities. Your therapeutic care plan will outline what is needed and evolve to meet your changing needs.

Plastic and Reconstructive Services

Aesthetic Enhancements

The goal of all aesthetic enhancements is to improve the skin and facial appearance. However, there are many different types and choosing the right enhancements for you can be a confusing process.

Options to Look and Feel Your Best

Botox® is a protein that is injected to facial areas with deep lines to relax or paralyze the muscle and smooth wrinkles. The injections are used with a very fine needle, and do not require anesthesia. The Botox® treatment lasts three to six months depending on the individual.

Fillers are injectables used to restore volume loss. Central Maine Healthcare offers many different types for different areas of the face.

  • Juvéderm®: an injectable filler containing hyaluronic acid, which is a complex sugar naturally occurring in the body that decreases with age. It improves the skin’s elasticity and may be used to improve deep skin folds and to enhance lips. Treatments usually last six months to a year, depending upon the individual.
  • Voluma® XC: the first and only FDA-approved injectable gel that can instantly add volume to your cheek area. Its effects can last up to two years with optimal treatment.
  • Kybella®: the first and only FDA-approved “double chin” treatment. This filler is an injection of deoxycholic acid, which can improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat under the chin.

Traditional Skincare: These services are likely the ones you’re most familiar with and can sometimes be found in spas. Central Maine Healthcare provides superior results over spas because of our medical grade equipment and product, as well as our highly trained team members.

  • Microdermabrasion: finely crushed diamonds expertly remove dead skin on the surface of the face. This procedure is ideal for fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne, scarring and overall exfoliation. It requires no down-time.
  • Skin Peels: a solution to the face, neck or hands for exfoliations. Also known as chemical peels, these treatments are a several-step process that may require several visits. The goal is to make the skin appear smoother and younger by removing a variety of imperfections such as age spots, acne, etc.
  • Facials: designed specifically for your skin type and needs, we offer facials in varying strengths from gentle to highly corrective. A consultation with your esthetician will allow you to decide what strength is right for you.

Central Maine Healthcare also offers Obagi® skin care products (a full line of scientifically formulated, medical grade skincare products) and Jane Iredale Skin Care Makeup® (made with quality formulas that contribute to skincare health) so you can optimize your results.

Asclera®: This injection is used to treat or remove spider and reticular veins and significantly lessen their appearance.

Latisse®: A prescription product used for hypotrichosis (loss or reduction of hair) of the eye. A liquid called Latisse® is applied to the lash line daily at home to thicken, darken and lengthen eyelashes.

Cosmetic Procedures: Our elective cosmetic options include surgery on all parts of the body for both men and women. From face lifts to breast augmentation to tummy tucks to liposuction, Central Maine Healthcare’s board-certified plastic surgeons can help you feel and look your best. Please note that these procedures are major surgeries and require significant downtime. Our care coordinator, surgeon and other team members will advise you on pre and post-operative care.

Laser Services: Our state-of-the-art lasers offer a completely non-invasive, yet extremely effective way to improve your skin. Specialties include laser hair removal, tattoo removal, skin tightening and resurfacing, treatment for pigmentation and sunspots, as well as scar revision. Most of these treatments require little to no downtime, and you can return to work immediately after. They are typically most effective when completed as a series of treatments over time.

Reconstructive surgery can restore appearance and function after injury or illness. For example, people recovering from breast cancer often turn to us for breast and nipple reconstruction, while those who’ve undergone bariatric surgery or other forms of major weight loss often seek us out for excess skin removal. Many patients seeking reconstructive surgery are referred to us from inside the Central Maine Healthcare system. We work collaboratively with other providers for the best possible outcome.

Skin cancer screenings: If you cannot get an appointment at your dermatologist’s office due to long wait times or other difficulties, visit us at our Central Maine Medical Center or Bridgton Hospital locations for a skin health evaluation.

Cosmetic Procedures

The goal of cosmetic surgery is different for everyone. For some, the goal is to restore their appearance after aging, stress, childbirth or genetics have taken their toll. For others, the goal is maintenance and prevention. And for others still, the goal is to augment their natural appearance so that they feel more at home in their bodies.

No matter your reason, cosmetic surgery is a highly personal choice that can require significant investment. Central Maine Healthcare understands that and takes your satisfaction very seriously. During your visit, our double-board certified surgeon will take the time to listen, walk through all of your options and answer any questions so you can make the right choice for you. To book your consultation, call 207-795-6543.

We offer surgeries that address every physical concern, from head-to-toe*:

Face
Eyelid Lift
Brow Lift
Face Lift
Forehead Lift
Neck Lift
Cheek Augmentation
Chin Augmentation
Ear Pinning**
Earlobe Repair/Reduction**
Cosmetic Mole Excision**
Breast
Augmentation (increases the fullness and projection of the breasts)
Lift (removes excess skin and tightens the breasts)
Reduction (removes excess skin and breast tissue, male and female)
Neck Lift
Cheek Augmentation
Chin Augmentation
Ear Pinning**
Earlobe Repair/Reduction**
Cosmetic Mole Excision**
Body
Tummy tuck (removes excess fat and skin and may also tighten abdominal muscles)
Lower body lifts (abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs)
Medial thigh lift (inner, mid and outer thigh)
Upper arm lift
Liposuction

We want to help you to look and feel your best. If you have any questions or are interested in a procedure not listed on this page, call 207-795-6543.

*Please note that while consultations take place at either our Central Maine Medical Center or Bridgton Hospital location, all procedures (except those marked **) are considered major surgery and will be performed at Central Maine Medical Center. 

Laser Services

Lasers are one of the most exciting skincare developments in recent years and are completely non-invasive; meaning no tool ever touches your skin. And yet, they provide such effective results for wrinkles, skin tightness, reduction, age spots, acne and rosacea and other issues that they can prevent or delay the need for stronger interventions and save you thousands on ineffectual products and monthly waxing. Central Maine Healthcare loves lasers for their versatility and efficiency — and you will, too.  Kate, our certified laser technician, has years of experience providing safe, results-driven treatments to clients of all ages, ethnicities and skin types.

Which Laser is Right for You?

Titan™
Tightens and rejuvenates skin:  The Titan can improve the laxity of your skin, making it look tighter, firmer and younger.
Best Candidate: those with minimal fat and thinner skin who are not ready for surgery.
During: you may feel a brief heating sensation.
After: you may experience some redness and mild swelling.
Best results: 1-3 treatments at 1-3 month intervals.

Intense Pulsed Light (Limelight for IPL)
Treats age/brown spots, broken capillaries and skin redness:  IPL can help you achieve a clearer, more even skin tone.
Best Candidate: those with aging skin and sun damage.
During: you may feel a mild pinching or stinging sensation.
After: your brown spots may darken before falling off, and you may experience some redness and mild swelling.
Best results: 1-3 treatments every 4-6 weeks.

Genesis
Improves fine lines and acne scarring:  Genesis can retexturize your skin.
Best Candidate: those with moderately aging skin and/or acne scarring.
During: you may feel a gentle warming sensation.
After: you may experience slight redness, though many people experience no side effects at all.
Best results: 4-6 treatments every 1-2 weeks.

Prowave™
Hair reduction for lighter skin tones and large areas:  Prowave™can eliminate the need to shave or wax for years.
Best Candidate: those with lighter skin and darker body hair.
During: you may feel a mild pinching and stinging sensation.
After: you may experience slight redness and localized swelling.
Best results: 6-8 treatments every 6-8 weeks.

Lumenis Diode
Hair reduction for all skin tones and small areas; IPL:  Lumenis Diode can eliminate the need to shave or wax for years and can also perform IPL photofacials.
Best Candidate: all skin types with no white or gray hair.
During: you may feel a snap like an elastic band.
After: you may experience minor redness and swelling.
Best results: 8-12 treatments every 6-8 weeks for hair reduction; 1-3 treatments every 4-6 apart for IPL.

Palomar 1540
Skin rejuvenation and non-ablative resurfacing:  Palomar 1540 can resurface your skin by heating up the underlying tissue, so you produce new collagen.
Best Candidate: all skin types.
During: you may need numbing prior to treatment; painful.
After: you may experience minor swelling, redness and temporary skin color change.
Best results: 1-2 treatments a year.

Q-Switched Nd:YAG
Tattoo removal: This laser can remove both black and dark colored ink.
Best Candidate: all skin types.
During: you may feel a snap like an elastic band.
After: you may experience redness and swelling.
Best results: 5-12 treatments at 6-8 intervals.

Reconstructive Surgery: Reconstructive and restorative surgeries are performed on patients with abnormal body form or function — often time caused by cancer, congenital defects, trauma, infection or developmental issues. At Central Maine Healthcare, our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will work with you in an intimate and comfortable setting to make sure you feel at ease asking questions. We make sure every appointment feels friendly, supportive and accessible, whether your surgery is big or small.

Helping You Feel Whole

Breast and Nipple Reconstruction: Following a mastectomy after breast cancer a breast reconstruction can improve your self-confidence and help to ease your cancer recovery, so that you can look and feel like yourself again.

Breast Reduction to Improve Comfort: large breasts can cause severe back pain and other physical problems. A reduction can ease your pain, and make you feel more comfortable in day-to-day life.

Body Contouring after major weight loss: Losing a substantial amount of weight often results in excess skin. We can skillfully remove this skin, taking great care to hide and minimize scarring while improving your self-esteem and quality of life.

Head and Neck Reconstruction Post-Trauma: After a major traumatic event, reconstructing the head and neck can not only improve physical appearance but also restore functionality to eyes, nose, mouth and other areas.

Skin Lesion/Cyst Removal: Skin lesions and cysts are very common and usually minor. However, that doesn’t make them any more fun to have around. Dr. Foley can remove your lesion or cyst with precision and minimal scarring.

Scar Revision: Scars can be unsightly, as well as painful reminders of a difficult time. Dr. Foley can perform a surgery to “revise” or minimize the appearance of the scar so that it is less noticeable and blends in with the surrounding skin tone and texture.

To make your appointment, call 207-795-6543.

Why Choose Us: Neurology

Our Expertise

CMH’s exceptionally skilled team treats brain and spine disorders, including:

  • Cervical spine disorders
  • Chronic low back pain
  • Herniated disk
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Stroke (brain attack)
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Brain and spinal tumors

Other procedures include the repair of ruptured discs in the spinal column, bleeding problems within the brain tissue or the surrounding membranes, tumor excision, or pituitary gland surgery.

Awards and Accreditations

Central Maine Healthcare’s Neurology Department is honored to bring nationally recognized, top-rated care to our community. Our awards and certifications demonstrate that we meet the highest standards in patient services, bringing you the best care available in this region. Below, you’ll see a few of the reasons why Central Maine Healthcare has been named one of the leading Neurology providers in the country.

The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification

This prestigious certification recognizes Central Maine Healthcare’s Neurology Department as a leader in the nation for our high-quality stroke care. The Joint Commission is the oldest and largest accrediting body in the U.S., and they awarded this distinction after a rigorous inspection of Central Maine Healthcare’s quality and safety procedures and data.

One of the biggest achievements highlighted was our multidisciplinary approach to neurology care. That means that should you or a loved one ever need our care, they will receive it from a celebrated team of board-certified healthcare professionals from several different specialties. Our success with this personalized, team-oriented approach to care is why Central Maine Healthcare was also noted by The Joint Commission as one of the top patient outcome achievers. You and your family can expect fast, accurate care and the best possible chance for recovery and rehabilitation.

American Heart Association & American Stroke Association’s “Get with the Guidelines – GOLD PLUS Quality Achievement Award”

Both the AHA and ASA recognize Central Maine Healthcare’s commitment to providing the very best treatment for your stroke or other related condition. Our doctors, nurses and other team members always base our treatment plans on the latest science and guidelines to ensure that you are receiving safe, cutting-edge care.

Quality and Safety Outcomes

At Central Maine Healthcare, our goal is to provide you the finest neurological care possible. We believe the way to produce the best outcomes is by working with nationally recognized, highly trained professionals and keeping our focus on patient safety which is our highest priority.

We Make Our Safety Data Transparent

We share our data publicly to give you the opportunity to compare us to other health centers. A well-informed patient is a satisfied patient, and we want to help you make an informed decision about your healthcare providers.

Your Input is Important to Us

We’re always looking for ways to enhance your experience with us. If you have suggestions on how we can improve the quality of our care, please call and speak to one of our Patient Advocates at Central Maine Medical Center 207-795-2398, Bridgton Hospital 207-647-6099 or Rumford Hospital 207-369-1488.  We’ll follow-up as soon as possible.

Thank you for choosing Central Maine Healthcare – and thank you for helping us improve our services.