Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Services

Medical Therapy

Fighting cancer is a big job but with Central Maine Healthcare on your side, you have access to the most effective weapons. Of these is medical therapy, which uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, often together with surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Full Range of Cancer-Fighting Treatments

We offer the latest medications, which maximize the effectiveness of treatment while minimizing the unpleasant side effects. Our board-certified medical oncologists and specially certified nurses will work closely with you and your cancer care team to carefully plan and monitor each treatment. Throughout every phase of care, we’ll also be right by your side to help you feel well and maintain as much as your normal routine as possible.

Depending on your unique needs, your medical therapy plan may include one or a combination of:

  • Chemotherapy: Used to kill cancer cells with medicines delivered in varied cycles through either an injection or a pill. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to kill cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery or radiation or to treat tumors that have developed in other areas. It can also help alleviate cancer-related symptoms.
  • Immunotherapy: Uses the body’s natural defense system to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs work by making hidden cancer calls visible to the immune system, allowing white blood cells to fight and kill the cancer.
  • Targeted therapy: Helps stop cancer from growing and spreading by targeting specific genes or proteins found in cancer cells or blood vessel cells.
  • Hormone therapy: Slows or stops the growth of cancer cells that uses hormones to grow, usually in breast and prostate cancers.

Cancer Care Excellence in Central Maine

Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center provides medical therapy through Hematology-Oncology Associates practice, which has offices in Lewiston, Bridgton, Rumford and Brunswick.

The practice is certified with the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI)™.

Comfort and Compassionate Care

You’ll receive intravenous medical therapy at our state-of-the art infusion center at Hematology-Oncology Associates in Lewiston. The center is designed for healing and comfort, an open space with bright windows and plenty of sunlight.

Support through Treatment and Beyond

We offer a full range of cancer support services to help deal with any and all treatment challenges. That includes one-on-one counseling with a registered dietitian to ensure good nutrition and manage any nausea or changes in appetite. We also have a chaplain for spiritual care, ongoing support groups and much more.

What is Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy uses high energy beams to destroy or shrink tumors, sometimes before or after cancer surgery, and to help alleviate symptoms. We offer the latest, safest and most effective radiation therapies to treat a wide range of cancers.

Our board-certified radiation oncologists and radiation therapists will work closely with your cancer care team and you to carefully plan and monitor each treatment to maximize success. We’ll also be right by your side through every phase of treatment to help you feel well and without major changes to your normal routine. 

Targeting Tumors with Extreme Precision

Central Maine Healthcare radiation therapists have some of the most sophisticated technology at their disposal. This technology allows your radiation therapist to deliver radiation in exactly the right place. This allows for a higher, more effective dosage amount without additional risk of side effects, including damage to normal, surrounding tissues.

The cutting-edge therapies we offer include:

  • Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT): Allows us to locate and track tumors with the use of advanced imaging before treatment delivery to deliver more precise radiation treatments.
  • Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): Allows radiation beams of various strengths and customized shapes to be delivered from several angles. Exact locations of the tumor and healthy structures are identified by your Radiation Oncologist, along with our knowledgeable dosimetry and physics planning team with the use of advanced computer planning systems  to determine the intensity of each individual radiation beam, sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT): A technique used to treat lung cancers and other applicable disease sites, this technique uses carefully programmed coordinates to deliver narrowly focused, high-dose radiation beams to a solid tumor, while incorporating patient respiratory breathing cycles into the treatment plan.
  • 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT): Uses computer simulation of the tumor and surrounding areas to shape the radiation beam exactly to the tumor.
  • RapidArc: Is a technique that takes IMRT to the next level. Using IGRT and IMRT, the treatment machine  delivers treatment as it rotates in fluid arc rotations around the patient.  Treatment time is faster and often times treatments can be delivered n less than 10 minutes.

Support through Treatment and Beyond

Throughout your journey, we offer a full range of support services to help deal with any and all treatment challenges. That includes one-on-one counseling with a a registered dietitian to ensure good nutrition and manage any changes in appetite. You also have access to an oncology social worker for any emotional concerns, as well as a chaplain for spiritual care, ongoing support groups and much more.

Sleep Disorders We Treat

If you’re one of the millions of Americans suffering with sleep problems, we know how frustrating that can be. And the consequences go far beyond feeling tired the next day. Narcolepsy, for instance, is dangerous because people fall asleep in an instant, even while they’re driving. With sleep apnea, your organs are deprived of oxygen and slow down. And chronic insomnia can often bring anxiety or depression and may indicate a more serious underlying medical problem.

The sleep medicine experts at Central Maine Healthcare’s are here to help. Our board-certified pulmonologists and other specialists will get to the bottom of what’s keeping you up, and work with you to find the right treatment, whether that’s medication, a state-of-the-art sleeping device, minimally invasive procedure or another solution. Together, we can improve your sleep and overall health and wellness.

  • Sleep Apnea: When you have sleep apnea, it means your airway is obstructed while you sleep and you’re depriving your brain and other organs of oxygen. Snoring is the clearest symptom, but apnea affects all of your body’s systems; you might feel colder than other people, or your hair might be thinning, you’re tired, or you can’t lose weight. In short, your internal motor isn’t running up to par. Some apnea patients even wake up during the night, gasping for air, which can be terrifying. But rest easy—we can help you control apnea with a variety of treatments, including a CPAP machine.
  • Insomnia: If it’s hard for you to fall asleep, or you wake up during the night and can’t fall asleep again, you have insomnia. That happens to everyone occasionally and can be resolved by changing the parts of your life that affect sleep — your bedtime, or diet and exercise. But when it happens repeatedly, you have chronic insomnia that should be treated. We’ll make sure you don’t have an underlying health problem, then create a personalized program that fits your lifestyle.
  • Narcolepsy: If you’ve been diagnosed with narcolepsy, you probably can’t make firm plans — especially if you have to drive — because you never know when you’ll suddenly fall asleep. We start with specialized testing to confirm the diagnosis, then custom-design a program to get you through your days with energy. We’ll co-create a regular sleep, meal and exercise schedule, and possibly prescribe new medications to help you sleep better at night.
  • Restless Leg Syndrome: We consider this ailment a sleep disorder because it usually happens at night and keeps you from getting enough rest. If you feel an urge to move your legs when you lie down, or if you feel a twitching, “pulling” or strange ache in your legs, you may have restless leg syndrome. We use a number of treatments for this disorder, including medications to boost the dopamine levels in your brain—it’s a chemical that sends messages to your nerves, telling them to relax—and a variety of muscle relaxants and sleep medications.

Insomnia

Defining insomnia isn’t complicated; it means you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Conquering insomnia, however, isn’t quite so easy because it can be traced to a long list of medical or lifestyle causes. Insomnia is a widespread sleep disorder: the National Institutes of Health says 30 percent of American adults experience some sleep disruption on a regular basis.

If you’re not getting the sleep you need for your healthiest and most productive life, the experts at Central Maine Healthcare can help. Our board-certified pulmonologists specialize in diagnosing and treating insomnia, and will work with you to create a personal plan to help put your sleep problems to bed.

Understanding Insomnia

The symptoms of insomnia are obvious: you’re tired during the day, you’re irritable and your performance at work or school is suffering. What most people don’t realize is, there are two types of insomnia:

  • Acute insomnia sounds more severe, but the opposite is true; here it means “temporary,” caused by some life circumstance. You’re likely to get acute insomnia, for instance, the night before a big exam or job interview, or when you’ve had an argument with a friend. Acute insomnia resolves itself after a few days without any treatment.
  • Chronic insomnia is ongoing—meaning, it happens at least three times a week, for at least three months. It can be caused by a change in your environment (moving to a new house or a different city), working the night shift or split shifts, another illness or medications. It also can be linked to another medical or psychological disorder.

Your Lifestyle Can Affect Your Sleep

You’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat.” Food and drink, more than any other factor, can keep you from occasionally getting a good night’s sleep:

  • Caffeine—no surprise there—can keep you awake. It’s a stimulant that stays active in your system for eight hours, so if you’re an all-day coffee drinker you should consider cutting yourself off after lunch.
  • Nicotine is another stimulant. If you smoke, you’re not resting as well as you might otherwise, even though you think smoking is relaxing you.
  • Alcohol can make you tired but can also disturb your sleep later, during the night.
  • A big meal close to bedtime can interrupt your sleep because heavy foods make it hard for your body to settle down and relax. Also, spicy food can cause heartburn, keeping you awake even longer.

Medical Causes of Insomnia

A large number of ongoing medical disorders can also cause you to lose sleep:

  • Nasal and sinus allergies or asthma
  • Lower back pain
  • Reflux or other gastro problems
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Arthritis pain
  • Depression
  • Other sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome
  • Chronic anxiety, such as a nightly feeling of being overwhelmed by family or work responsibilities.

Helping You Get the Sleep You Need

There’s currently no clear-cut test for diagnosing insomnia. But, by keeping a sleep log, answering targeted questions and a blood test to rule out issues such as thyroid disorders, you and your team at Central Maine can pinpoint the cause of your insomnia and find the right treatment. We may also recommend an overnight sleep study, offered at our full-service sleep center in Lewiston. Once we better understand the problem, your treatment plan may include one or a combination of:

  • Relaxation training:Breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness training all can help immensely with your overall relaxation, helping you to sleep better at night.
  • Stimulus control:If you take your laptop to bed with you, pay bills in the bedroom or even watch TV until you go to bed, you’re stimulating your brain when you should be preparing it for rest. You can exercise stimulus control by following three simple rules: (a) don’t go to bed until you’re sleepy; (b) reserve the bedroom for two activities only—sleep and intimacy; and (c) if you’ve been lying in bed for 20 minutes and still can’t fall asleep, get up and do something else.
  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): A therapist trained in CBT can teach you to eliminate unhealthy fears that keep you awake, or to change other thought patterns to help you rest easier. 
  • Over-the-counter or prescription medications: A mild sleeping medication might be necessary to get you in the habit of falling asleep on a regular schedule.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that can cause a sudden “sleep attack” during any type of activity or any time of day. It’s relatively rare: only one in 2,000 American adults have been diagnosed. But, it can severely limit your life – people with narcolepsy don’t dare drive, and holding down a job can be challenging, to say the least.

If you or someone in your family drops off to sleep without warning, it’s important to get tested for narcolepsy as soon as possible. The experts at Central Maine Healthcare specialize in diagnosing and treating this condition, helping you find peace of mind and the healthy, routine sleep habits you need.

Understanding Narcolepsy

When you have narcolepsy, it means your brain can’t control your sleep and wake cycles. The disorder usually begins when you’re young—between ages 10 and 25—but diagnosing it can take up to 10 years because so many other disorders show the same symptoms. In fact, it’s estimated that half of people with narcolepsy have not been diagnosed. Symptoms include:

  • Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)—more than “ordinary” fatigue, people with EDS are tired all the time and when they get sleepy, they fall sound asleep, whether they’re driving a car, talking or even standing
  • Frightening nightmares, seeming like hallucinations
  • “Cataplexy,” a weakening of your muscles when you feel strong emotions of any kind, whether it’s laughter, surprise or anger. Your head will drop, your face will droop, jaws weaken and knees give out. You might even fall down.
  • Sleep disruption – you can fall asleep but it’s difficult to wake up.
  • Sleep paralysis — you can’t move or speak when you’re falling asleep or waking up. Sometimes you can’t breathe.

Getting You Back to Good Sleep

To diagnose narcolepsy or another sleep disorder, we may recommend a sleep study, available at our nationally accredited sleep center in Lewiston. During your visit, you may undergo two of the gold-standard tests:

  • PSG (polysomnography), an overnight exam that measures your brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, leg movements and eye movements; and
  • MSLT (multiple sleep latency test), which takes place the morning after the PSG and measures daytime sleepiness.

Based on those results, your Central Maine pulmonologist will work with you to create a personal treatment plan, which may include medication and/or lifestyle changes. The first drug treatment usually is a stimulant for the central nervous system, because it’s less addictive than other choices and causes fewer side effects.

If that type of stimulant isn’t effective, your provider may prescribe an amphetamine-like stimulant. These meds are less desirable because they not only can cause unhealthy side effects such as shakiness and heart rhythm fluctuations, they also are potentially easy to abuse.

Simple lifestyle adjustments can also help normalize your sleep patterns: taking short naps, getting on a regular sleep schedule, cutting alcohol and caffeine before bedtime, exercising, stopping smoking and relaxation exercises.

In addition, your provider will make you aware of safety precautions you need to take if you’re diagnosed with narcolepsy. You don’t want to be driving, either alone or with passengers, if your sleep/wake cycles aren’t completely under control.

Restless Leg Syndrome

It couldn’t be more aptly named: if you have Restless Leg Syndrome, it means your legs won’t stay still. Also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, restless leg affects nearly 10 percent of adults in America. It happens at any age, to both men and women, and the discomfort happens more frequently and lasts longer as you get older.

If you feel a strange, “jittery” sensation in your legs, especially in the evening, come see the sleep medicine specialists at Central Maine Healthcare. Our board-certified providers can diagnose the condition and recommend the right treatment to help your legs relax, so you can get some much-needed sleep.

Understanding Restless Legs

Restless leg won’t directly damage your health, but it’s extremely uncomfortable and stops you from getting good sleep (which is never healthy). Like any sleep disorder, the lack of sleep brings on daytime fatigue and sleepiness, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Because you’re tired, you may not be able concentrate, study or work well—all factors that contribute to depression and anxiety.

People with restless leg describe it, first, as an irresistible urge to move their lower limbs. They say it feels like an aching, throbbing, pulling, crawling, itching or creeping sensation, often with some pain. It begins in late afternoon or evening and is most severe at night. It varies from day to day, usually affecting both legs. It’s considered severe when you feel it more than twice a week and it affects your daily functioning. Moving around can relieve the restlessness, but it often returns.

Causes

We can’t be sure what causes restless leg, but we do know it has a genetic component. It’s also related to low iron in your brain, and low levels of dopamine, a brain chemical needed to produce smooth, purposeful muscle movements — the opposite of what your limbs do when you have restless leg syndrome.

Certain medications aggravate the condition, such as anti-nausea drugs, antipsychotic drugs, some antidepressants and select cold and allergy medicines. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine can make it worse, so if you have restless leg, you may be able to temper it a bit by cutting back on those substances. Pregnant women are susceptible, as are people with nerve damage (neuropathy).

Helping You Get a Relaxing Sleep

Diagnosing restless leg syndrome isn’t a complex process; it’s one sleep disorder with unique symptoms that your provider will recognize. Your specialist at Central Maine will help you find the right treatment, which may involve lifestyle changes such as cutting alcohol and tobacco use, setting and sticking to a regular sleep pattern and doing moderate exercise, including aerobics and leg stretching.

Iron supplements might also if a blood test shows you’re iron-deficient. Your provider might want to try anti-seizure medications, which increasingly are the first line of defense in treating restless leg.

For non-drug therapies, massaging your legs can soothe and relax your muscles, reducing the discomfort of restless leg. If the idea of massaging appeals to you, ask your provider to look into new devices that wrap around the leg and vibrate, delivering relief to the muscles running down the back of your legs.

It couldn’t be more aptly named: if you have Restless Leg Syndrome, it means your legs won’t stay still. Also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, restless leg affects nearly 10 percent of adults in America. It happens at any age, to both men and women, and the discomfort happens more frequently and lasts longer as you get older.

If you feel a strange, “jittery” sensation in your legs, especially in the evening, come see the sleep medicine specialists at Central Maine Healthcare. Our board-certified providers can diagnose the condition and recommend the right treatment to help your legs relax, so you can get some much-needed sleep.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which you stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. If your apnea is severe, you might wake up choking and gasping for breath several times a night, which can be scary. It also means the brain and the rest of the body may not be getting enough oxygen, which can lead to other serious health problems. That’s why it’s important to be seen as soon as possible if you suspect there’s an issue.

At Central Maine Healthcare, our specialists can help you take control of apnea once and for all. We offer overnight sleep studies close to home in Lewiston and a full range of treatment options, including CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines, so you can get back to the restful night’s sleep you deserve.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

There are two main types of this sleep disorder:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea, where your throat muscles relax too much, and your airway literally can close, making it impossible for you to take a breath. You end up with low oxygen levels in your blood, and your organs end up not getting sufficient fuel to work properly.
  • Central sleep apnea, when your brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles that control your breathing.

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, but certain factors put you at higher risk:

  • Being overweight
  • Having a thicker-than-normal neck
  • Age
  • Family history
  • Smoking
  • Chronic nasal congestion
  • Being a male (men are two-three times more likely to get sleep apnea than women

Additional risk factors associated with the condition include congestive heart failure, taking narcotic pain meds and having suffered a stroke.

Symptoms

The list of sleep apnea symptoms is long, and may include one or a combination of:

  • Loud snoring
  • You’ve been told you stop breathing while you sleep
  • Morning headaches, often with a “pounding” sound in your head
  • Choking, snorting or gasping for air during the night
  • Dry mouth
  • You fall asleep but wake during the night
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Difficulty focusing and paying attention
  • Irritability
  • Nightmares

Take Back Your Sleep – and Health

Sleep apnea affects more than your quality of life. It brings complications far beyond not feeling rested:

  • Daytime fatigue and inability to focus can make you feel moody and depressed. Eventually there’s an “emotional fallout” when you feel lousy so much of the time.
  • When your heart and other organs don’t get enough oxygen, the outcome can be high blood pressure and heart disease. Even worse, your heartbeat can become irregular, which can result in sudden death.
  • Untreated sleep apnea puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
  • Sleep apnea can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • Your partner also can develop a range of disorders because your sleep apnea symptoms also stop them from getting good rest.

The good news: Sleep apnea can be effectively managed with the right diagnosis and treatment. At Central Maine Healthcare, we usually start with an overnight sleep study at our nationally accredited sleep center in Lewiston. During the study, our sleep specialists and technicians will monitor your heart, lung and brain activity; arm and leg movements; blood oxygen levels and breathing patterns. Depending on the results, you may be referred to one of our ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists to rule out a blockage in your nose or throat.

If your sleep apnea is mild, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or stopping smoking, to eliminate those possible causes.

Most sleep apnea, though, is treated with the use of a CPAP machine. The CPAP will force your airways open with air while you sleep, so you’ll no longer have an obstructed airway. You can choose to wear a small nose mask or, if you’re a “mouth breather,” a larger face mask. Your provider will adjust the air settings before you take the CPAP home, or might recommend an auto-adjusting BPAP machine instead.

Most of the time, CPAP is a highly effective option, though in rare cases, we may recommend surgery to remove tissue blocking your airway. We’ll work closely with you to the best treatment for your unique needs.

Bariatric Surgery Process

After attending an information session, you’ll schedule an initial evaluation with a surgeon and the rest of the bariatric team. During this appointment, you will complete a full physical and record your medical and surgical history. If you are a candidate for weight loss surgery, you’ll undergo a series of medical screenings, attend a pre–operative nutrition screening and diet counseling and pre-operative behavioral health screening,

At this time, a letter will be sent to your insurance company to obtain approval for the operation. The approval process can take from a few weeks to a few months, depending on your insurance company.

Initial Evaluation for Bariatric Surgery

During your initial evaluation your surgeon will complete a full physical and record your medical and surgical history. The surgeon will also determine what tests and other medical clearance you will need to complete the program. These tests are evaluating your obesity related diseases and to make sure you are healthy enough to have surgery. Some medical problems may mean you are not a candidate for surgery.

Some of the pre-operative tests that may be required include:

  • Abdominal Ultrasound
  • A complete set of blood work
  • Cardiac Clearance
  • Chest x-ray
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG)
  • Echocardiogram (Echo)
  • Medical Clearance
  • Pulmonary Function Tests
  • Sleep Study
  • Endoscopy (EGD)
  • Upper gastrointestinal (GI) evaluation
  • Computerized Tomography (CT) scan 

Pre-operative Behavioral Health Screening for Bariatric Surgery

Surgical treatment for obesity changes a person’s relationship with food. Therefore, it is essential as part of the pre-operative assessment process that you undergo a psychological evaluation. This evaluation is performed by our licensed clinical social workers to determine if bariatric surgery is appropriate for you. Your assessment will be looking at:

  • Psychiatric history
  • Current psychological function
  • Weight and dieting history
  • Current eating behaviors
  • Level of physical activity

During the evaluation, you are also educated on the behavioral changes necessary to ensure good post-operative results, as well as any psychological changes that can be anticipated after surgery. Your initial evaluation may determine that you will need further appointments before being ready for surgery.

Pre-operative Nutrition Screening and Diet Counseling for Bariatric Surgery

Our pre-operative nutrition screening is focused on changing your eating behaviors and food selection practices. This helps you more easily adjust to your post-operative diet and achieve the best results possible from bariatric surgery. During nutrition screening, a dietitian from our team will evaluate your weight loss history and current eating behaviors using a weight and diet history questionnaire. You will then have a series of appointments to complete dietician modules. You will need to make certain changes to your food behaviors in order to be ready for surgery.

Most insurance companies require six months of supervised weight loss, called Medical Weight Management. At each of these monthly visits, you will meet with a dietitian to work towards completing all the testing required before surgery and preparing for all the dietary and behavior changes that come with surgery.

Last Steps before Surgery

All of the testing you completed is sent to your insurance company for pre-authorization. You will work with our Insurance & Surgery Coordinator to then determine a surgery date and schedule pre-op and post-op visits.

Surgery

All bariatric surgeries require general anesthesia. Surgeries are performed using small incisions either laparoscopically or robotically. The hospital stay is usually one to two nights. Patients will start a liquid diet in the hospital and be walking in the halls.

Recovery

Patients should avoid lifting more than 10-25 pounds for four to six weeks after surgery and avoid abdominal exercises for six to eight weeks after surgery. Typical surgical follow up visits are at two weeks, six weeks and three months after surgery.

Long Term

Lifelong follow up is required. Usual follow up visits are at six months, one year, and annually after surgery. At these visits, you will meet with the physician assistant and a dietician. The goal of these visits is to help you stay on track with your weight loss and prevent weight regain, nutrition deficiencies or late complications from surgery.

New Patient Questionnaire Packet

Before you arrive at your initial consult visit with the surgeon, please print and fill out the New Patient Questionnaire Packet below.  You will need to bring the following items with you to the first appointment:

  • The new patient questionnaire packet
  • Your insurance card
  • Copy of your medication list, including any over the counter medications you take
  • Copayment if indicated

You must bring the below new patient questionnaire packet completed with you to your first appointment in order to be seen.

Bariatric Surgery Options

If you’re obese, you’re not alone: more than one-third of American adults are morbidly obese – increasing their risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions, while keeping them from the active and happy life they deserve.

Our Bariatric Surgery Program offers highly effective surgical options to put you on the path to success. Our board-certified weight-loss surgeons specialize in the latest minimally invasive techniques, giving you the best possible start on your journey. And with a caring team of dietitians, mental health providers, bariatric-trained nurses and other specialists, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

We offer:
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric Band Management
Revisional Surgery

Bariatric Surgery Approaches

We are highly skilled and experienced in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic-assisted bariatric surgery.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Robotic-assisted surgery enables the surgeon to have increased precision and control, especially for more complex cases. To operate the FDA-approved da Vinci ® Surgical System , your surgeon makes tiny incisions in your body and inserts miniaturized instruments and a high-definition three-dimensional camera.  Then, from a nearby console, your surgeon manipulates those instruments to perform the operation.

During a robotic-assisted procedure, your surgeon uses master controls to manipulate the instruments, which translate your surgeon’s movements into precise movements inside your body. Your surgeon is in control the whole time; the surgical system responds to the direction he/she provides. Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery may offer many benefits including:

  • Potential for fewer complications for certain individuals
  • Less pain and scarring
  • Small incisions
  • Lower risk of infection rates
  • A shorter hospital stay
  • The ability to use small incisions for complex cases

Laparoscopic Surgery

As an alternative to open surgery, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery (minimally invasive surgery) allows your surgeon to use techniques that limit the size and number of incisions. It’s typically considered safer than open surgery. You’ll usually recover more quickly, spend less time in the hospital, and feel more comfortable while you heal. Other benefits include:

  • Less post-operative pain
  • Shorter hospital stays
  • A reduced rate of infection
  • Less blood loss
  • Smaller scars

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy, otherwise known as ‘the sleeve’, is a procedure that makes the size of the stomach smaller. This limits the amount of food you can eat, so you are fuller faster. It also affects certain hormones in the body that affect our hunger, so in general your appetite is suppressed. This surgery is non-reversible.

Advantages:

  • Reduction in portion size
  • Reduction in hunger
  • Decreased chance of malabsorption and nutritional deficiency
  • No dumping syndrome
  • Improvement or resolution of medical problems related to obesity

Disadvantages:

  • Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Stricture or narrowing of the sleeve
  • Ulcers, particularly from NSAID use or smoking

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

With gastric bypass surgery, a small stomach pouch is created from your normal stomach. This ‘pouch’ is where your food will go once you swallow it. The pouch is connected to a segment of your intestines so that your food ‘bypasses’ the majority of your remaining stomach (‘remnant stomach’) and the first portion of your small intestines. This means that you will have some malabsorption of some vitamins and minerals. Gastric bypass helps with weight loss because of restriction (small stomach), hormone changes (changing your hunger) and malabsorption.

Advantages:

  • Reduction in portion size
  • Reduction in hunger
  • Improvement or resolution of medical problems related to obesity

Disadvantages:

  • Dumping syndrome
  • Malabsorption can lead to poor absorption of iron, calcium and B vitamins
  • Ulcers from smoking or NSAID use
  • Strictures at the intestine connections
  • Change in the absorption of certain medications

Gastric Band Management

The LAP-BAND is an adjustable silicone band placed on the top portion of the stomach that is attached to a port to restrict food intake. We do not insert gastric bands in patients, but we do manage them for patients who are happy with them. We also remove them for those patients having issues with them.

Revisional Surgery

Revisional surgeries are surgeries performed on patients who have had previous bariatric surgery. Common indications for revisional operations include complications such as ulcers, fistulas, hiatal hernias, uncontrolled reflux or issues with lap-bands. Revisional surgeries are more complex and carry increased risk compared to original bariatric surgeries. Your surgeon will carefully evaluate you and your history to determine if you need revisional surgery.

Outpatient Therapy

No matter what your outpatient therapy needs, CMH offers the care you need. With a full spectrum of diagnostic, therapeutic and restorative services, our mission is to get you on your feet and back to normal activities as quickly as possible after an injury or illness. Our scope of services also goes beyond care after an acute injury or illness, offering services for patients who need help maintaining mobility and other abilities. All Central Maine Healthcare outpatient therapy services follow nationally recognized best practices for quality care, meaning you can receive the optimal care you need close to home.

Services Available: Every person is unique and distinct, so the outpatient therapy services we offer are, too. At your first appointment, our first step is to gain a thorough understanding of your needs, your medical history and your lifestyle. Based on those specifics, the outpatient therapy team will put together an individualized care plan to help you achieve your goals. This care plan may include:

  • Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
  • Back and Spine Care
  • Post Surgical Rehabilitation: Continuing Rehabilitation after Hospitalization
  • Balance and Vestibular Program
  • Work Injuries
  • Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy
  • Lymphedema Management
  • Pelvic Floor Rehab – Bladder Control–Incontinence Management
  • Swallowing Therapy
  • Adult Speech/Language Therapy
  • Pediatric Speech/Language Therapy
  • Osteoporosis Program
  • Neurological Rehabilitation

Occupational Therapy

When a person has difficulty performing activities of daily living due to an illness, injury or cognitive change, occupational therapy may provide solutions. Occupational therapy provides personalized guidance and intervention to help patients of all ages and walks of life participate fully at home, work, school or in social situations. For some patients, this will involve working to regain lost skills, while other patients will, with the help of the occupational therapist, learn to adapt their environment. Occupational therapy focuses on offering personalized care to help each patient reach their goals.

What Happens During Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy sessions vary from patient to patient. Specialists will tailor therapy sessions to you or your loved one’s individual goals and needs. In some cases, occupational therapists help children with disabilities learn to navigate social and school situations. Older adults experiencing physical or mental changes may benefit from an occupational therapist helping them find newer, more manageable ways to complete their daily activities. Or, for patients who have sustained injuries that make performing some tasks difficult, occupational therapy can find workaround solutions to help them improve their quality of life. Occupational therapy focuses on physical, mental and emotional needs of each patient. Specialists work with the patient and family to help build a healthy, sustainable way of life that fits the patient’s goals and needs.

How Is Occupational Therapy Different from Physical Therapy? In short, physical therapy helps improve strength, endurance, range of motion and pain management. Occupational therapy can help with these things, as well, but it also focuses on fine-motor skills, such as moving fingers and toes. It also works to improve patients’ cognitive, perceptive, and sensory-processing abilities, while physical therapy does not usually focus as strongly on these things.

Occupational Therapy at CMH: Our Acute Rehabilitation Center is a 13-bed center that offers high-quality therapeutic care, including occupational therapy. Referrals are needed for admission. To learn more about our Acute Rehabilitation Center, request a tour by calling 207-795-2495 Monday through Friday and 207-795-2600 on weekends.

Contact Us
Bridgton Hospital
25 Hospital Dr.
Bridgton, ME
207-647-6145		CM Therapy Services
690 Minot Ave.
Auburn, ME
207-753-3456		CM Therapy Services
77 Bates St.
Lewiston, ME
207-795-2122		CM Therapy Services
23 Bowdoin St. Manchester, ME
207-248-0500
Naples Physical Therapy
12 Lakes Plaza Dr., Ste 4
Naples, ME
207-693-4202		Rumford Hospital
420 Franklin St.
Rumford, ME
207-369-1099		Turner PT Services
287B Auburn Rd.
Turner, ME
207-225-2610

Physical Therapy

You may think of physical therapy in relation to injury, but it encompasses much more. Physical therapy is specialized to help regain or maintain physical abilities, including mobility, gait and function. Because every injury or illness is unique, a person’s physical therapy recommendations are also unique. A trained physical therapist will recommend a specific and individualized regimen designed to help a patient overcome deficits, reduce pain and improve overall functioning. The physical therapist works in conjunction with other members of a patient’s care team, including their primary care provider.

Why Do You Need Physical Therapy? You might need physical therapy for a variety of reasons. For example, if you experience an acute or chronic injury or undergo a surgical procedure to treat an injury, you may need physical therapy to help you regain strength and mobility in the affected limb. Patients who have experienced a stroke often require physical therapy to help them repair physical limitations that may occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Physical therapy can also be prescribed to help a person maintain their current level of functioning. This can be the case when a person has a progressive disease such as Parkinson’s disease, which can affect mobility over time, or when a person’s abilities begin to diminish with age.

What to Expect During Physical Therapy: Physical therapy differs from patient to patient, since therapy is individualized based on their specific needs. At your first appointment, your physical therapist will spend time reviewing your medical history and deficits you are experiencing. Based on this information, they will recommend a specific regimen to help you reach your treatment goals. Your physical therapy sessions will include guided exercises in conjunction with joint mobilization, manual therapy, strength training and, potentially, other types of therapy, including occupational and/or speech therapies.

Recovering From Physical Therapy: Because physical therapy requires you to move your body in multiple ways, it can sometimes cause discomfort. Your physical therapist or medical provider will offer suggestions on alleviating any residual discomfort. Physical therapy also often involves prescribed exercises meant to be performed at home between sessions.

Speech Therapy

Speech and language disorders affect a person’s ability to communicate. When someone has difficulty making sounds, communicating ideas or swallowing, speech therapy could help resolve the problem. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess, diagnose and provide a treatment plan for a variety of disorders in children and adults.

Why Do You Need Speech Therapy? Speech therapy can help with several types of impaired speech and language skills:

  • Speech disorders such as apraxia, dysarthria and stuttering cause a person to have difficulty forming words and sounds.
  • Speech and language delays occur when a child’s speaking abilities develop slower than average. This is a common developmental issue that affects up to 10% of children.
  • Language disorders such as aphasia and auditory processing disorder affect a person’s ability to form words or understand and process language.
  • Swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia, are characterized by problems eating or drinking. These issues may be caused by muscle weakness, issues within the brain or nervous system, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or head and neck cancer.

Speech therapy should begin as early as possible to remedy the issue. Children who receive speech therapy before age 5 typically show better results than children who start at older ages. Adults who have a speech impediment from childhood, or a condition resulting from illness or injury, should seek professional help from an SLP. Treatment can still be effective at a later age, as adults also can see improvement after visiting a specialist.

Getting Ready for Speech Therapy: You will need to request a referral from your primary care provider to see a speech-language pathologist. They will direct you to a trusted, licensed SLP in your area. Be prepared to answer questions, as SLPs ask for specifics so they can understand the complete picture. You can bring a document that lists concerns with speech or language, a timeline of speech development and information about medical conditions that may affect speech. This helps assess the condition and create a personalized treatment plan.

What to Expect During Speech Therapy: Every session varies based on your circumstances. After a treatment plan is created, your SLP will help you decide the frequency, timing and setting. Some SLPs provide group treatment, while others work on an individual level. A session could include activities to practice language skills, articulation therapy or swallowing therapy. A SLP will guide you or your child through the entire process.

Click to learn more about our: Specialty Programs

FAQ – see if your question is answered below:

Will my health insurance cover therapy services? Physical, occupational and speech therapy are usually included under health insurance plans. Before starting therapy services, however, check with your insurance company or ask for assistance from hospital team members. You also need to know whether or not the insurance company requires a referral. CMH accepts most major insurances. For more information call Patient Financial Services at 888-869-3101 regarding payment plans or other assistance with your bill.

I don’t have health insurance. Can I still receive therapy services? Patients paying directly for services receive a same-day, flat-rate discount. We provide an economical treatment plan to keep costs down while obtaining maximal results, and we offer programs for people who are unable to pay for services.

What makes CMH Therapy Services so distinctive? Patients see an experienced therapist who works to help achieve their goals, big or small. We want you to return to life activities as soon as you are able. We offer multiple convenient locations where patients usually see the same therapists at each visit. Your home exercise program is an important part of your recovery, so your therapist will assist you with written instructions.

Research confirms that patients who take charge of their own care achieve the best results with fewer visits, resulting in reduced costs. If patients progress on schedule and are having success with their home program, we may be able to reduce the frequency of visits. We are available during the week by phone or email and will respond quickly to any questions you may have. Let us know if you notice a change that concerns you. Therapy visits last an average of 45 minutes. We strive to keep appointments on schedule and request that you arrive at your appointments in a timely manner.

How should I prepare for my first visit?

Before coming in: We will call you to schedule your appointment and complete a patient intake form over the phone. Other forms can be downloaded from the website [link to this page when it’s updated] and completed to bring to your first visit.
On arrival:
Please arrive 15 minutes early to register and complete any additional paperwork. Our friendly and well-trained front desk team members are always happy to help you. If you weren’t able to complete the medical history form at home, our front office team members can help you complete it and answer any questions you may have. If you have a prescription for therapy, please make sure you bring it to the first visit.

What should I wear? Wear loose, comfortable clothing and exercise shoes. Women with an arm or upper back problem may want to consider wearing a tank top or sports bra. If you have a knee or ankle problem, consider wearing shorts.

Where do I park? Parking is available near the hospital. If you need assistance getting out of your car or to the therapy department, we can have a therapy staff member meet you. Let us know if you need a wheelchair.

What should I do if I have questions that weren’t answered here? Please call us and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Inpatient Acute Rehab

We offer a full spectrum of inpatient acute rehabilitation services designed to help you recover and get back to normal life as quickly as possible. Because no injury or illness is the same as another, inpatient acute rehab is an individualized process. Every patient receives a care plan personalized to fit their specific needs. Your rehab plan may include:

  • Assistance overcoming balance, mobility and coordination impairments
  • Coaching and guidance to perform activities of daily living, such as feeding or bathing
  • Education and resources to help you learn how to deal with a new “normal” as needed
  • Exercises to help regain movement, strength and endurance
  • Guidance related to assistive devices and equipment that may help after you leave
  • Help overcoming communication or swallowing difficulties
  • Training of family members to help with your care or daily activities

Why Choose CMH? When you need rehabilitation, you want to receive that care close to home. CMH offers specialized care to help you regain abilities and maintain function, located in or near the setting you received your initial care. This benefits patients by providing continuity of care, promoting positive outcomes and return to normal activities. CMH believes in the power of family, allowing family members to participate in their loved ones’ care when possible.

Quality Outcomes: You can feel peace of mind knowing that CMH offers rehab services that exceed nationally recognized quality standards and best practices. CMH maintains CARF International accreditation for medical rehabilitation services. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor, which means that our processes, procedures and outcomes have been thoroughly reviewed internally and by an external team of experts selected by CARF.

Our drive for constant improvement is evident in our quality measures. Approximately 80% of our rehabilitation patients are discharged directly back to the community on completion of their rehab program. This speaks to the quality of care and the thorough approach our providers take to identifying and implementing individualized care plans for each patient.

Acute Rehab Patient Outcomes 2023

Discharge LocationTotal # of Patients: 242CMH Acute RehabRegional AverageNational Average
Home or Community19279%76%81%
Long Term Care or Skilled Rehab2711%9%6%
Acute Hospital219%9%9%
Average Length of Stay 13.8 days11.1 days11 days

Source: Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023.

Contact Us
207-795-2600		Find a LocationFind a Provider

Rehabilitation and Therapy Objectives: The CMH rehab therapy team realizes that every patient has unique needs and creates programs tailored to each condition. Our focus is on what patients can do — identifying their strengths and maximizing independence — and providing appropriate therapeutic programming. We help with a variety of cognitive, perceptual, communication and physical limitations:

  • Use specialized equipment as needed, and adapt to barriers
  • Adapt to life with disability beyond rehab
  • Address swallowing, feeding and nutritional needs
  • Improve personal care such as feeding, bathing and dressing
  • Increase mobility (e.g., the ability to get out of bed and walk)
  • Overcome balance and coordination impairments
  • Overcome communication deficits
  • Regain strength and range of motion in arms, legs and trunk
  • Teach family members to provide assistance

Swing Bed Program in Bridgton and Rumford: The Swing Bed Program at CMH was created to help inpatients transition from hospital-based care back home. Because these patients are allowed to stay in the hospital as opposed to a skilled nursing facility, they receive care from many of the same providers who treated them while they were ill, providing continuity of care. When you receive our swing bed services, you have access to:

  • A case management team to assist in locating resources and preparing you for discharge
  • Central Maine Healthcare’s extensive network of medical specialists
  • Comfortable, private rooms with bath, shower, cable, telephone and free Wi-Fi
  • Infusion, lab, X-ray, pharmacy and other on-site services
  • Our swing bed medical director and providers on-site 24 hours a day
  • Physical and occupational therapy, seven days a week
  • Speech therapy up to five days a week

Who Should Consider the Swing Bed Program? Patients with a variety of health conditions and needs can benefit from this service. Our different offerings include:

Contact Our Swing Bed Coordinator for More Information:
Bridgton Hospital – 207-647-6052
Rumford Hospital – 207-369-1000

Spine Care

Where We Practice:

Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics
690 Minot Avenue, Auburn
Phone: 207-783-1328
Office Hours: Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Request an Appointment

Central Maine Healthcare Spine Care is a leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and image-guided surgical techniques. We are the regional referral center for surgical and non-surgical spinal disorder treatments, including the latest in advanced therapies for treating acute and chronic neck and back pain.

Most individuals with spine conditions do not need surgery to get better. When a thorough exam and diagnosis has been made, we work with you to create a customized care plan, first using non-surgical solutions such as spine-specialized physical therapy, injections and medications. When non-operative treatments of back pain or neck pain don’t offer adequate relief, your provider may recommend spine surgery.

Spine Conditions We Treat

Herniated disc
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis		Scoliosis
Spinal tumors and fractures
Degenerative disc disease		Nerve pain
Radiculopathy
Sciatica (pinched nerve – radiating arm and leg pain)

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our surgeons are fellowship trained in modern, minimally invasive spine surgery and cutting-edge image-guided technologies to perform your surgery with greater precision, fewer complications, and faster recovery. Minimally invasive procedures allow many patients to have their surgery in the morning and be home later the same day to recover in their own homes. This is because, in minimally invasive spine surgery, a smaller incision is made, sometimes only a half inch in length. The surgeon inserts special surgical instruments through these tiny incisions to access the damaged area in the spine. Entry and repair to the damaged disc or vertebrae are achieved without harming nearby muscles and tissue.

While this type of surgery requires highly specialized training and experience to master the use of the tools, it affords tremendous benefits to the patient. The incision is smaller, the hospital stay is shorter, and recovery is quicker and less painful.

A Non-Surgical Approach

The CMH Spine Care team includes board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, also known as physiatrists. Physiatrists specialize in treating joint, tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries.

Many of our patients who have a spine injury but are not ready or a candidate for surgery, typically consult with a physiatrist to discuss the full range of treatment options available to them. Our physiatrists utilize advanced diagnostic tests such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies to more accurately understand the cause of your problems.

If indicated, we may prescribe an injection to relieve your pain symptoms and help you bridge into therapy and perhaps back to a full recovery. A spinal injection can also reveal important diagnostic information about your problem and how best to treat it. Spine injections are performed in our on-site Ambulatory Surgery Center, in a room with a C-arm imaging system which enables the provider to position the pain-relieving medication to a specific location.  These procedures generally take about 30 minutes.

State-of-the-Art Spine Care Center

CMH Spine Care is a state-of-the-art spine center equipped and organized to deliver a level of back, neck, and spine care unmatched in the central Maine area.  Individuals receiving treatment here at CMH Spine Care benefit from a comprehensive suite of first-class resources – all under one roof and just minutes from home.

  • Evaluation by board-certified non-surgical and surgical providers
  • Spine-trained clinical staff
  • Spine diagnostics (EMG/Nerve Conduction Studies)
  • Xray and rapid access to advanced imaging
  • Spine-specialized physical therapy
  • Ambulatory Surgery Center for same-day surgical care

Meet Our Spine Care Team

Keith Lyons, MD, Orthopedics
Michael Regan, MD, Orthopedics
Matthew McLaughlin, MD, Orthopedics
Cynthia Richards, MD, Orthopedics
Angela Michalka, PA-C Orthopedics
Kayleigh Deschaine, Spine Care Coordinator

Diabetes Education and Support

Being told you have diabetes can be overwhelming, but the certified educators at Central Maine Healthcare are here to help you manage your condition with confidence. We’re here to help you live your healthiest life with:

  • All the latest information on diabetes
  • Guidance on blood glucose monitoring
  • Lifestyle support, such as managing sick days, managing stress and psychological adjustments you might experience
  • Help preventing complications, such as foot and vision problems
  • Healthy eating and exercise plans, personalized to your tastes and activities

Hands-On Support for Every Step

You’ll first meet individually with one of our certified diabetes educators, so we can be sure you understand diabetes. We’ll assess your current lifestyle and show you how we think you can be even healthier. We’ll make sure you know how to set blood sugar goals, how to use your meter, when to test your blood and what to do when your blood sugar is too high or too low.

Get Answers from the Experts

We know you’ll have questions about managing your diabetes. You might be wondering, for instance:

  • What can I order in a restaurant?
  • I have my lab results—but what do they mean? What numbers should I be looking for?
  • How much do I have to exercise?
  • I have bad knees, and can’t walk long distances (or run at all). What are my exercise alternatives?
  • Do I really have to count carbs every day?

Our skilled diabetes educators are always available to answer these and any other questions you may have.  We also have social workers on staff to help with financial, emotional or mental health needs. We can help you find resources and assistance right in your community. And every year, we offer a free Diabetes Fair, featuring vendors who can highlight the latest in diabetes management technology.

Self-Management Program

One of our most popular resources is the outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Program, an intensive program on effectively managing your diabetes. You’ll be shown in-depth strategies for setting goals, solving problems, how to spot complications, and making sure your social life doesn’t include obstacles to your healthier lifestyle.

Diabetes Prevention Program

As part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), the CMH DPP lifestyle change program helps people with prediabetes make healthy, long-term changes to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Participants meet in a small group led by a trained lifestyle coach. Individuals receive group support and learn how to get on a healthy track and stay there.

Full Recognition from the CDC Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program Since March 2016

The Lifestyle Change Program

Participants in the Lifestyle Change Program meet for about one hour once a week for eight weeks, every two weeks for eight more sessions, then once a month for six months to complete the year-long program.

During each session, your lifestyle coach will present health information and then lead a group discussion. You will learn to:

  • Eat healthy
  • Add physical activity to your life
  • Manage stress
  • Stay on track when eating out

For more information about the CMH DPP lifestyle change program, go to www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention.

The Benefits of a Diabetes Prevention Program

Follow-up studies show that following this lifestyle change program has helped many people with prediabetes cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half.

Participants can achieve weight loss by making healthier food choices, becoming more physically active and learning to manage stress. The Diabetes Prevention Program research reveals that even modest behavior changes can lead to great results: for example, if a person weighing 200 pounds lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight (10 to 14 lbs.), they could reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half.

Studies also show that when people have the support of others working towards the same goals they have more success. Group members celebrate successes and encourage each other to overcome challenges.

Lifestyle Coaches

Central Maine Healthcare Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coaches Offer Information and Support. Lifestyle coaches are an essential part of the Central Maine Healthcare Diabetes Prevention Program.

CMH lifestyle coaches have all been trained by a Master Trainer or Master Trainer Select, certified by the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center at Emory University.  Our coaches are skilled in helping people who have been diagnosed with prediabetes achieve lifestyle changes that will enable them to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Our coaches help people:

  • Learn the facts about healthy eating and physical activity and explain how these behaviors will help reduce risk for type 2 diabetes
  • Set and meet goals
  • Build relationships with other participants
  • Work as a group to meet challenges
  • Understand and respond to food cues
  • Stay motivated
  • Solve problems that get in the way of making healthy changes

Nutritional Counseling for Diabetes

With diabetes, what you eat matters. That doesn’t mean all patients follow the same strict food plan — we know there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet. At Central Maine Healthcare, our registered dietitians will work with you to design a personalized nutrition plan, based on your unique goals, tastes and medical history. More than anything, we want you to be able to eat healthy and enjoy your favorite foods. To us, that’s the essence of meal planning.

Tools to Help You Eat and Live Well

Your one-on-one sessions with your Central Maine dietitian will cover a wide range of topics to inform and empower you, such as:

  • Insulin—what it does, how much you need, what happens when you don’t make enough, and how your insulin levels are affected by certain types of foods
  • Other food outcomes, good and bad: cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and more
  • Food allergies and intolerances; what’s the difference and how to identify foods you should avoid
  • Eating to build muscle
  • Losing and gaining pounds, and how the endocrine system affects your weight
  • Eating with your family: do they need a new meal plan, too?
  • Sports nutrition: how to eat if you’re an athlete (or just a weekend warrior)
  • Vegetarian choices; some are insulin-friendly, some aren’t
  • Functional nutrition, looking at food as medicine to improve your health
  • Alcohol and how it affects your insulin levels

Once you understand food and diabetes, making the best choices will become second nature, whether you’re at home or eating out.

CMMC Specialty Pharmacy

More Than Just a Pharmacy

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

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

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

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

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

Download a copy of the CMMC Specialty Pharmacy welcome packet.

What to Expect

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

On time Refills Plus Prescription Monitoring

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

Free Medication Delivery Plus Supplies

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

Providing Care for Specialized Disease States

Useful Links

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

Financial Assistance Programs

We Offer Support By:

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

Our Services

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

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