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Jaxson Cole is first baby born at Central Maine Medical in 2022

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Newborn is child of Abby Conary and John Cole of Lewiston

Jaxson, Abby and John

Jaxson Cole entered the world at 3:57 a.m. Sunday, the first baby born at Central Maine Medical Center in 2022.

He is the son of Abby Conary and John Cole, a stay-at-home mom and a delivery worker for FedEx who live in Lewiston.

“He’s a feisty little boy and he likes to eat,” Conary said.

Jaxson, who weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19 ¾ inches, is his mother’s third child and his father’s fifth. His siblings – 3-year-old Echo, 5-year-old Alice, 6-year-old John Jr. and 8-year-old Sara – were excited to meet him in person. They were “obsessed” after seeing the newborn boy over videoconferencing, Conary said.

While Jaxon was getting used to the world outside the womb – “He’s like, ‘Leave me alone,’” Conary said – the parents had been calm ever since Conary’s water broke as she was getting ready for bed on New Year’s Day.

“I was cool and collected the whole labor for her. As soon as Jaxson’s out, I know the whole routine,” said Cole, describing the difference from the birth of his eldest daughter. “My first child, I almost passed out. So definitely a growing experience from there.”

Cole was excited to care for a young baby again and the snuggles that come with that.

“It’s a good warm feeling,” he said. “It makes you feel content with everything that’s going on around you.”

 

Guild donation will help Bridgton Hospital secure mammography equipment

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Bridgton Hospital Guild’s final donation to be used for breast cancer screenings

Bridgton Hospital is a big step closer to acquiring a state-of-the-art 3D mammogram unit, thanks to a generous donation from the Bridgton Hospital Guild.

For years, the now-dissolved guild has been operating a coffee shop and thrift store to help raise funds for equipment that the hospital, on its own, could not acquire. Recently, Bridgton Guild President Marlise Libby and treasurer JoAnn Morasse presented Peter J. Wright, FACHE, president of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital, with a $40,000 check that will go toward the purchase of the mammogram equipment.

“For years, we’ve been glad to help Bridgton Hospital get equipment they need with funds we were able to raise,” Libby said. “As our final donation, we were able to further the effort to obtain this much-needed 3D mammogram unit.”

“On behalf of the team members and leadership at Bridgton Hospital, I cannot thank the members of the guild enough,” Wright said. “The time and effort these volunteers have put in to ensure we provide the best healthcare to our community has been invaluable.”

Mammography is one of many diagnostic services Bridgton Hospital makes available to residents of western Maine. All imaging is done digitally, which makes results easily accessible and transferable, if necessary.

The Bridgton Hospital Guild is also deeding the building the thrift shop was located in to Bridgton Hospital. Proceeds from the planned sale of the building will also go toward purchase of the mammogram equipment.

Left to right: Bridgton Guild Treasurer JoAnn Morasse; Peter Wright, president of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital; Guild President Marlise Libby.

 

Central Maine Medical Center named “High Performing Hospital” for maternity

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U.S. News & World Report: CMMC “excels on multipe metrics”

Central Maine Medical Center is being recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time U.S. News has published a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity.

CMMC earned a “High Performing” rating in Best Hospitals for Maternity. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News awards for that type of care.

“It is very gratifying to be recognized in this way by a national news organization,” said Steven  G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “It’s a reflection of the commitment to professionalism and excellence of our team members on CMMC’s maternity ward have – something they share with all Central Maine Healthcare team members. It is such an honor for the rest of the world to know they can place their trust in us for the highest level of care possible when they are welcoming new lives into their world.”

To be recognized among the Best Hospitals for Maternity, hospitals needed to excel on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including complication rates, C-sections, whether births were scheduled too early in pregnancy and how successfully each hospital supported breastfeeding. Only one-third of the hospitals evaluated by U.S. News for maternity care earned a “High Performing” rating.

“All families de serve to be informed on how hospitals perform on key indicators of quality, which is why U.S. News has compiled and published a trove of maternal health data from hospitals across the country,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News & World Report. “The hospitals we’ve recognized as High Performing meet a high standard in caring for patients with uncomplicated pregnancies.”

Unique to the U.S. News site, participating hospital profiles are a one-stop shop and include a variety of relevant offerings for parents-to-be including key measures of safety, alongside services and amenities, like private rooms, valet parking and availability of child birthing classes.

The evaluation looks at hospital data relating to only uncomplicated pregnancies, not high-risk pregnancies. Participating hospitals responded to a survey from the U.S. News health analysis team in Spring 2021 which reflects data from 2019. Participation was voluntary. U.S. News anticipates updating Best Hospitals for Maternity in Summer 2022, to coincide with the release of the 2022-23 Best Hospitals for Procedures & Conditions ratings.

Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals earn national recognition for outstanding quality, community care

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Named 2021 Leapfrog Top Rural Hospitals for exemplary quality and safety

Top Rural Hospital Logo
Top Rural Hospital Logo

Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, both Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital have been named Top Rural Hospitals by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can earn.

“This is a great honor and the best reflection of the commitment to the highest standard of quality, safety and service to our community. I have always maintained that the most important part of ‘community hospitals’ is ‘community,’” said Peter J. Wright, FACHE, president of Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals and vice president of operations of Central Maine Medical Center. “We are here to serve and it is critically important that we provide the highest quality of healthcare. I could not be more proud of the more than 500 team members who come together every day to make this happen again this year.”

The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers recognized as

Rumford Hospital

the toughest standard-setters for healthcare safety and quality. Central Maine Medical Center recently received its seventh consecutive “A” – the highest grade possible – for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group.

“This recognition of Top Rural Hospital for Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals on the heels of our seventh ‘A’ grade for Central Maine Medical Center once again shows that quality and safety are a system-wide commitment that all of our team members, at every location, work to uphold,” said Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “I am humbled by their talents and passion for excellent patient care.”

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among their peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Over 2,200 hospitals were

Bridgton Hospital

considered for the awards. Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital were among a total of only 23 selected as Top Rural Hospitals.

“We are honored to be recognized with this commendation for our two critical access hospitals,” said John L. Alexander, MD, MHCM, FACEP, chief medical officer of Central Maine Healthcare. “Our team members’ dedication to providing the highest quality of care for all of our patients throughout the region is something we all take pride in. This award shows that our ongoing commitment to quality and excellent care is consistently upheld across our entire system.”

The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, surgery, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication and other errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Maine Healthcare hospitals achieve the 2021 Gold Star of Excellence award from Breathe Easy Maine

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CMMC, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital recognized by Breath Easy Maine for commitment to tobacco-free campuses

Congratulations to all three Central Maine Healthcare hospitals for achieving the 2021 Gold Star of Excellence award from Breathe Easy Maine, an organization dedicated to reducing smoke exposure across the state. Breathe Easy conducts the Gold Star Standards of Excellence recognition program annually to encourage and support Maine’s hospitals in addressing smoking and tobacco use by creating and maintaining smoke and tobacco-free policies. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of death and disease in this country with over 443,000 deaths per year. According to American Hospital Association, 76% of hospitals nationally have gone 100% tobacco-free.

Want to contribute to reducing smoke exposure in Maine? Take the smoke-free home pledge today and join CMH’s efforts!

https://breatheeasymaine.org/smoke-free-homes-pledge/

Bethel Physical Therapy now serving patients in new, improved location

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New site allows for more individualized treatment

Bethel Physical Therapy has moved to a new site that will enhance patients’ experience and provide more opportunities for individualized treatment. The practice, which is affiliated with Rumford Hospital, is now at 32 Parkway, Suite 4, in Bethel.

The new facility has a larger ground level area with increased gym space and a private treatment room. It also features a beautiful and inviting space where patients are provided with one-on-one treatment in 45-minute intervals, with no overlap of patients. During this personal time with the therapist, patients receive hands-on treatment as well as an individualized exercise program.

Bethel Physical Therapy treats a variety of orthopaedic issues including cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) and lumbar (lower back) injuries, joint replacements, ankle- and foot-related issues, as well as shoulder, knee and hip problems, sports-related injuries, TMJ and is now accepting pelvic floor referrals. It also treats neurological issues that cause generalized weakness and impact gait and balance.

 

 

 


Susan McCarthy, PT, brings more than 30 years of experience in physical therapy. Sue has worked in mostly orthopaedics, but also has experience working in a general rehabilitation, skilled nursing and home care. Sue has also been an aquatic therapist and is specially trained in women’s health.

 

 

 

 

Ben Ellis, DPT, specializes in treating and caring for patients in the Bethel area and surrounding communities, focusing on decreasing pain, recovery from injury or surgery and improving physical confidence.

 

 

 

 

Debbie Shorey has been with Central Maine Healthcare for five years and brings a strong patient-oriented attitude to the organization, along with attention to detail that puts patients’ needs front and center.

 

If you have any questions, please call Bethel Physical Therapy at 207-824-4895 or fax your referral to 207-824-4897.