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Successful Bridgton Hospital Golf Tournament raises funds for critical medical equipment

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On September 13, 115 community members, business leaders, Central Maine Healthcare team members, volunteers and friends of Bridgton Hospital gathered at Bridgton Highlands Country Club to show their support for their local hospital.

Nearly $30,000 was raised through registrations and raffles. These funds will go towards purchasing and installing a ceiling lift system that will handle patients more safely.

 

“What a great day this was for the entire Lakes Region community,” said Stephany Jacques, interim president, Bridgton Hospital. “Every year people turn out for a fun day on the links and, in the process, raise funds that will directly benefit our patients at Bridgton Hospital. This year was no exception. Many thanks to the event’s sponsors, our volunteers and those who came out to help a great cause!”

 

Jim Mains, Bill Holden and Gary McIver of Bridgton, and Scarborough resident Jim Greenleaf took home the top honors for the day with the lowest gross score. Among the other tournament highlights was a chance to win a Dodge Challenger with a hole in one, thanks to a sponsorship from Macdonald Motor Group and a Grand Putt Off contest in which Ryan McCauley of Howell Labs was the lucky winner, taking home a brand-new e-bike thanks to a new sponsorship from Sport Haus Adventure Outpost.

Over the years, the tournament has raised more than a million dollars in support of the programs and services Bridgton Hospital provides for its patients and the community.

Central Maine Healthcare welcomes five new providers to cardiology team

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Mary Huerter, MD, is a cardiac surgeon. She graduated from medical school and completed her residency at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Her education and experience also include a research fellowship at University of Virginia and a cardiothoracic fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Huerter chose cardiac surgery because she enjoys the anatomy and very technical nature of heart surgery.

 

“My healthcare philosophy is to fully engage the patient and their family to ensure everyone feels comfortable with what to expect with regard to their heart surgery. Those who are well informed are better equipped to navigate the recovery from major surgery.” 

 

Gemini Yesodharan, MD, graduated from Amrita School of Medicine in Kerala, India, and completed his residency at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and Tufts University. He also completed fellowships in general cardiology and interventional cardiology at St. Elizabeth’s. Dr. Yesodharan’s healthcare philosophy is to do no harm and to treat every patient as he would a family member.

“I believe in making connections with my patients,” Dr. Yesodharan said. “Not just at a professional level, but also at a deeper level as an individual in order to provide individualized care in a holistic fashion.”

 
Bryce Einhorn, MD, is an interventional cardiologist who attended medical school at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and completed his residency at the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. 

 

“I am keen on staying at the cutting edge of interventional cardiology, using the most advanced technologies and techniques to improve patient outcomes,” Dr. Einhorn said. “I also want to be involved in the teambuilding aspect of medicine. Playing sports in college taught me that every player – or team member – whether a medical assistant, the person who maintains the cath lab supplies or a provider – has an important role to play in caring for our patients.”

 

“We are incredibly fortunate to have attracted such highly qualified and well-trained providers,” said Michael Berlowitz, MD, chief of CMHVI. “These physicians were recruited by institutions from all over the country, but they wanted to make their home here in Maine. Their arrival just raised the bar for cardiac care in our state and is great news for our patients and staff at the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute.

 

“This coming fall, CMHVI is also adding two prominent, highly experienced electrophysiologists, building upon our cutting-edge care of cardiac arrhythmias.”

 

CMHVI was recently reaccredited for its stroke treatment and prevention programs. It has also been recognized by the American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for echo lab and vascular lab. The department has also been accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Administration.

An Apple a Day

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By Katie Davenport MS, RD, LD (Clinical Nutrition)

Can you believe it’s apple season, already?! Apples are ready for picking from August through October in Maine and many orchards are now open! There’s an astounding 7,500 varieties of apples available around the world and about 100 of those are grown in Maine. Top “picks” (haha, get it?) are McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, and Honeycrisp.

Regardless of the variety you choose, apples are a nutritious choice any time of the year. Apples are mainly made up of carbohydrates and water. They also contain a high amount of fiber, most of which is found in the peel. Fiber is beneficial for the gut, it helps keep blood sugar levels steady, and it may lower blood cholesterol levels. In addition, they are a great source of the antioxidant vitamin C. We’ve heard the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and there’s some truth to the expression. Vitamin C may help protect against some cancers, heart and eye diseases, and the common cold. It’s worth thinking about how much vitamin C we consume as part of our diet year-round, especially now since the school year has started, and cold and flu season won’t be far behind.

Try one of these recipes to incorporate more apples into your eating pattern this apple season!

  • Pair a whole, fresh apple with 1-2 tablespoons of nut butter, or a cheese stick, for a balanced snack
  • Add fresh apple slices to a salad for extra crunch and sweetness
  • Add apple slices to a grilled cheese sandwich (tip: honeycrisp apples pair well with gouda and gala apples pair well with cheddar!)
  • Get apples at breakfast with this apple pie overnight oats recipe
  • Warm up as the weather gets cooler with butternut squash apple soup
  • For a snack or dessert that’s fun for both kids and adults, try apple “nachos”

Central Maine Healthcare announces new providers for the River Valley

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Jesse Leeds, MD, is joining the team at Swift River Family Medicine in Rumford.

Lauren Mason, NP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner who is joining the Elsemore Dixfield Family Medicine practice.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Leeds graduated medical school from SUNY Downstate and completed his residency at Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency.

His journey to become a family physician started when he was a boy, helping his mother, a pediatrician, at her office. He didn’t have any immediate plans to follow in her footsteps and also spent time helping his father, who owned a flooring business.

He says the experience working with his father enables him to empathize with many different types of people, especially those who have the aches and pains that go along with tough work. He also said he realized early on in his medical training that he wanted to be a family physician. “It became clear to me that I didn’t want to specialize in one area,” Dr. Leeds said. “I am interested in treating the ‘whole person’ when I meet with patients. I very much enjoy the interaction with them and trying to get to the root of whatever medical issues they may be experiencing.”

Lauren was born at Rumford Hospital and started her career there as a CNA.

Lauren graduated from Maryville University and said she chose pediatrics for a simple reason: “I have always loved caring for children and teaching them how to be the healthiest people they can be. I have a background in labor and delivery, and have a national certification for breastfeeding support. I am here to build healthy lifestyles with the children of my beloved local community.

Bridgton Hospital celebrates addition of new 3D mammography unit

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Bridgton Hospital this week cut the ribbon on its new 3D mammography technology that is now available to patients.

Bridgton Hospital is the only facility in the Lakes Region to offer 3D breast imaging for women who are undergoing a screening mammogram. Also known as tomosynthesis, 3D mammography is a safe and proven technology that has many benefits over traditional 2D methods, including:

  • More accurate findings
  • Earlier diagnosis
  • Better detection in dense breast tissue
  • Fewer callbacks for false alarms

Prior to the ribbon cutting for the new equipment, Stephany Jacques, RN, interim president, Bridgton Hospital, spoke during a brief gathering to Central Maine Healthcare team members and other guests including Central Maine Healthcare board member and local businesswoman Marney Chalmers, and distinguished members of the former Bridgton Guild.

Jacques said Bridgton Hospital is already seeing an increase in the number of women making appointments for 3D mammography.

“As we approach October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we especially encourage women in the community to come in and get their mammography screenings,” she said. “These routine exams could really be lifesaving.”

Also in attendance was Alissa Noble who is lead mammographer at Bridgton Hospital. Noble, who screens patients using the new equipment, had her own breast cancer diagnosis 10 years ago, which she says allows her to understand what patients are going through.

“I still worked in medical imaging when I was on the other side of the hospital, undergoing chemo,” she said. “It gave me a different perspective and really helped me understand our patients concerns.”

The addition of the 3D mammography unit was made possible through donations from the Bridgton Hospital Guild and the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation.

Bridgton Hospital, in partnership with Central Maine Healthcare, offers a multidisciplinary team of women’s breast health specialists, including expert guidance in abnormalities, breast surgery and reconstruction.

Patients can schedule a breast cancer screening appointment by calling 207-777-8080.

Pictured:

(left to right): Carolyn Cilley, Bridgton Hospital Guild, Alissa Noble, lead mammographer, Bridgton Hospital, Marlise Libby, Bridgton Hospital Guild cut the ribbon

 

In-person breastfeeding support group up and running again at Central Maine Medical Center

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The popular in-person breastfeeding support groups for new mothers at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) are up and running again, after being scaled back during the pandemic.

CMMC’s maternity team has earned a stellar reputation. For the second straight year, CMMC was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as “High Performing in Maternity Care.” The hospital also maintained its “Baby-Friendly” designation from Baby-Friendly USA for providing mothers with the information, skills and confidence to breastfeed their babies. CMH is one of only three healthcare systems in Maine with that distinction.

August is National Breastfeeding Month which was established to highlight the benefits of breast milk for babies. Among them are stronger immune systems, a reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and physical development. There are also numerous health benefits for breastfeeding mothers.

Vicky Roy, RN, has worked at CMMC’s maternity ward for more than 50 years. She says when she first started, only about 40 percent of new mothers attempted to breastfeed. Now, she says, that percentage is in the high 80s.

“There can be a lot of anxiety around being a new mom, but as they’re breastfeeding, they get a really close, intimate connection with their baby,” Vicki said. “It’s like an extension of the pregnancy and it really bonds them. A lot of women have said it’s the most powerful experience of their lives -nursing their babies.”

CMMC has lactation specialists on hand, seven days a week, including overnights with certified breastfeeding mothers.

“Breastfeeding can be pretty tricky,” said Lindsay Petty, RN, who also works at CMMC’s maternity ward. “So being able to provide the individual support a woman needs to be successful on her breastfeeding journey is a wonderful experience.”

Central Maine Medical Center’s breastfeeding support group meetings are held on Thursdays at 9:30-11:30 a.m. at 12 High Street, in the lower level. They are open to all new breastfeeding mothers in the central Maine region.

CMMC’s maternity department has also been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center+. This distinction recognizes hospitals that demonstrate more affordable care in addition to quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results.