Join us for the 30th Annual Bridgton Hospital Golf Tournament – the hospital’s premier annual fundraiser attracting local leaders from the business, political, public, and not-for-profit communities. Tournament Proceeds will enable Bridgton Hospital to purchase critical trauma equipment for the Emergency Department including a big wheel stretcher for LifeFlight patients and a LUCAS (hands-free) chest compression system.
Bridgton Hospital
The New Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center is Now Treating Patients
Central Maine Medical Center’s new, state-of-the-art, comprehensive cancer treatment center is now open, promising to improve both the hospital’s capacity and quality of care. The Cancer Care Center brings CMMC’s surgical oncology, radiation oncology and chemotherapy units together under one roof, an improvement for patients who walk across campus to access cancer services on opposite ends. The need for two new linear accelerators — machines used to target radiation at tumors with pinpoint accuracy — was partly responsible for the construction of the cancer center. CMMC’s current linear accelerators have become outdated, and new models are too large to fit in the same space.
Totaling $4.2 million, the two new linear accelerators are the most striking examples of the center’s cutting-edge treatment technology. Both are estimated to last just 10 years before replacements are necessary, according to John Hamilton, vice president for oncology and surgical services at Central Maine Healthcare, CMMC’s parent company.
“We have a lot of capabilities with these new machines to expand our capabilities and delivering new or higher-end treatments as those come online,” he said. “This is a long-term investment, and we’re very, very excited about it.
The center also boasts 24 suites for chemotherapy infusions, five more than the hospital currently has. They are in an aesthetically appealing, naturally lit space. While receiving treatment, patients will have access to TV, Wi-Fi and radio to help pass the time. The space is slightly curved, mirroring the double helix shape of DNA. “Helix represents not only science, but life and hope,” said Hector Tarraza, chief oncology institute physician.
The design and functionality of the infusion area was especially important when creating the center’s designs. “Our staff bonds to these patients tremendously,” Hamilton said. “You can imagine seeing somebody on a daily basis or weekly basis or monthly basis for years on end, they really become a part of their families. In and of itself, we wanted to provide a space that is the best place away from home.” CMMC sees over 100 patients each day for cancer care, according to Hamilton, with about 8,000 radiation treatments performed every year.
The Dempsey Center, a Lewiston-based nonprofit organization that provides free support services for people with cancer and their families, will also have a resource center on the first floor of the building. “You won’t go anywhere else in New England and find a nicer cancer care center. We went and traveled to a lot of them to look and see what we wanted to do. You will not find a better place.”
The new cancer center will additionally benefit Central Maine Healthcare’s regional cancer treatment facilities in Bridgton and Rumford by bringing more specialized staff into the hospital system, said Peter Wright, vice president of operations for CMMC and president of Bridgton and Rumford hospitals. Specialists hired at the new cancer center will also work in the regional hospitals.
“With the program that we have, we’re able to rotate super specialists … out into all of our markets, so we can bring that level of subspecialty,” he said. “Pretty much everything that’s done here (in Lewiston), with the exception of the radiation oncology, can be done in Bridgton and Rumford.”
“That’s even more important because … from Bridgton and Rumford, it’s an hour’s drive,” he said. “We don’t want patients being treated for cancer to have to drive an hour two, three times a week. So those satellite outposts that we have at each of the regional hospitals is tremendously important to bring the care locally and bring that level of expertise locally.”
The $37 million center was built by Bateman Partners, a commercial real estate developer based in Portland. The hospital will lease the center over the next 20 years. Originally proposed in 2019, the state approved CMMC’s proposal in 2020, with construction beginning later that year. The cancer center opened for patient care June 6.
Learn more about our Cancer Care Center and providers.
Excerpt from ‘New CMMC cancer center”; www.sunjournal.com/2022/05/12/you-will-not-find-a-better-place-new-cmmc-cancer-center-to-open-in-june/
Volunteer Appreciation Week Highlights
Since 1974, National Volunteer Week has served as an opportunity to recognize those who dedicate their time and effort to the causes they care about. Central Maine Healthcare could not do the amazing work we do without our volunteers. In fact, in 2021 our volunteers served over 11,000 hours.
From all of us at Central Maine Healthcare…Thank You!
Healthcare Update from your friends at Bridgton Hospital!
Join Peter Wright, President of Bridgton Hospital, for an update on all of the great things happening at Bridgton Hospital and beyond. Peter will describe our services,
new providers and what’s on the horizon for our team members and locations. Bring your questions as we’ll reserve the end of the meeting for a community Q&A session.
We look forward to seeing you there. Please visit Facebook for more information or email marketing@cmhc.org to RSVP or get more details.
Thanks To All Who Helped CMH Lead the Way in COVID Vaccinations!
With the combined efforts of the Maine National Guard, local community leaders, volunteers and team members, Central Maine Healthcare has administered nearly 100,000 vaccinations throughout the pandemic.
Most of these happened at CMH’s high-volume vaccination site at the Auburn Mall, which was the longest continually-operating vaccination site in the State of Maine before finally ending operations last month. Many doses were administered, and continue to be provided, at CMMC, Rumford Hospital and Bridgton Hospital, as well.
April is National Donate Life Month
Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital are pleased to announce we have partnered with New England Donor Services to celebrate National Donate Life Month, a celebration commemorating those who have given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. For those
whose lives have been saved or healed by a transplant, National Donate Life Month provides a chance to share their story to encourage more people to register as donors.
In 2021, the U.S. surpassed 40,000 transplants for the first time ever. This is a special and life-saving milestone and was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors and a strong partnership between donor hospitals, organ procurement organizations and transplant centers.
In addition to organ donation, tissue donations help more than one million individuals each year. Heart valve, bone and skin donations give recipients a new chance at a healthy life, the recovery of tendons and ligaments can help heal a severe sports injury and cornea donations give the gift of sight.
Currently, more than half of New England residents are registered organ and tissue donors, yet the number of patients in need of transplants continues to outpace the number of organs donated. More than 100,000 people are waiting for a transplant and a second chance at life. On average, 17 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time. Someone is added to the waiting list every nine minutes. Registering your decision to become a donor is the most effective way to save lives through donation and is a sign of support to those who continue to wait.
As a first step in our hospital’s commitment to this important campaign, I urge you to join me in registering your own generous decision to be an organ and tissue donor. To learn more about donation and to sign up as a designated donor, visit www.registerme.org. By taking a few minutes to register, you ensure that your desire to give this gift is officially recorded. You may someday be able to give the priceless gifts of life, sight and mobility to another.
