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Gratitude for our providers on National Doctors’ Day

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In 2021, National Doctors’ Day has more significance than ever.

“This year, I am so grateful to stand with the providers whose life’s work is caring for their patients and the communities they serve,” said Jason Krupp, MD FACP, president of Central Maine Medical Group. “This was an incredible year for our 330 physicians and associate professional staff at Central Maine Healthcare. When the pandemic struck, turning the world as we knew it upside-down, they heroically stepped into the line of fire, saying ‘This is what I was called to do.’”

Central Maine Healthcare providers rose to the challenge and met it head on. They have continued to do so ever since Maine’s first COVID-19 case showed up on Maine’s doorstep – in the Emergency Department of Central Maine Medical Center.

For 88 years, March 30 has been a day to honor the contributions of physicians. It has had a number of milestones: the first observance in Georgia in 1933 to commemorate the first administration of ether as a surgical anesthetic, a U.S. House resolution in 1958 and the first official national observance in 1991 after then-President George H.W. Bush signed legislation into law.

National Doctors’ Day 2021 is another one for the history books, Krupp said.

“Not one of our providers shied away from their duty in the coronavirus crisis. I’m proud of each and every one of them,” he said. “Please join me in thanking them on this National Doctors’ Day.”

Poland Spring donates water to Central Maine Healthcare high-volume vaccine effort

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Poland Spring has generously donated 75 cases of water for use at the high-volume vaccination site run by Central Maine Healthcare at the Auburn Mall, the first such site in Androscoggin County.

“The support of organizations like Poland Spring  has been inspiring,” said Amy Lee, vice president and chief operating officer, Central Maine Medical Group. “Poland Spring’s generous donation is a tremendous help to our patients, team members and our volunteers. So many people and businesses have selflessly stepped up to help make this vaccination site a success, and we can’t thank them enough.”

Healthy Androscoggin, part of the Central Maine Healthcare system, worked with Auburn Public Works to have the water picked up and delivered to the Auburn Mall.

The high-volume vaccination site opened on March 17. Central Maine Healthcare opened it in partnership with the City of Auburn, the City of Lewiston and the State of Maine and in coordination with the Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency, St. Mary’s Health System, Tri-County EMS, the National Guard and the Auburn Mall. The site is expected to operate for six months, with the goal of vaccinating up to one thousand people a day, as vaccine supplies allow.

How to Help

Volunteers, both clinical and non-clinical, and donations, both financial and in-kind, can support COVID-19 efforts such as the high-volume site. Please visit cmhc.org/how-to-help for more information.

Vaccination Appointments

Vaccination at the Central Maine Healthcare-run site at the Auburn Mall is available by appointment only. To check availability, book an appointment or find out more about high-volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917.

For information, please use this website and phone number rather than contacting the mall or the cities.

Vaccinations will take place at the Center Court of the Auburn Mall. The entrance will be through the south entrance, near Thatcher’s.

With the opening of Auburn Mall site, Central Maine Healthcare is pivoting resources from the clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to the high-volume site. Community vaccination clinics will continue at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

Dr. Shah of Maine CDC visits high-volume vaccination clinic opened by Central Maine Healthcare, Auburn, Lewiston and State

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1The new regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site launched by Central Maine Healthcare at the Auburn Mall had a special visitor on Saturday: 

Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Shah Auburn Mall Clinic

“Clinics like the one at the Auburn Mall help ensure that we are continually making progress on vaccinating Mainers quickly and safely,” Dr. Shah said. “Sites like this also mean Maine will be ready to ramp up vaccinations when the federal government is able to increase weekly allotments of vaccine to the State.”

Dr. Shah toured the facility with Central Maine Healthcare’s chief medical officer and met with volunteers from partner organizations and health system team members running the clinic.

“We were delighted to have Dr. Shah visit today and see our site in operation. The Maine CDC – and Dr. Shah in particular – has been incredibly supportive throughout the pandemic,” said Central Maine Healthcare Chief Medical Officer John Alexander, MD, MHCM, FACEP. “The phenomenal collaboration we have with the State and all our partners is making a huge difference for our communities.”

Dr. Shah visited the site on its third day of operations, when it had 778 appointments booked. After its ramp up, the Central Maine Healthcare-run site aims to vaccinate 1,000 people each day of operation – or 4,000 per week – as vaccine supplies allow. The site is expected to operate for six months.

The new regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site was launched by Central Maine Healthcare, the City of Auburn, the City of Lewiston and the State of Maine on Wednesday.

In addition to operating the site at the mall, partners are coordinating to ensure that vaccination efforts reach all members of the community. Central Maine Healthcare and leaders from Auburn, Lewiston and the State of Maine are working with Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency, St. Mary’s Health System, Tri-County EMS, the National Guard and the Auburn Mall.

Vaccination Appointments

Vaccination at the Central Maine Healthcare-run site at the Auburn Mall is available by appointment only. To check availability, book an appointment or find out more about high-volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917.

For information, please use this website and phone number rather than contacting the mall or the cities.

Vaccinations will take place at the Center Court of the Auburn Mall. The entrance will be through the south entrance, near Thatcher’s.

With the opening of Auburn Mall site, Central Maine Healthcare is pivoting resources from the clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to the high-volume site. Community vaccination clinics will continue at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

How to Help

Volunteers, both clinical and non-clinical, and donations, both financial and in-kind, can support COVID-19 efforts such as the high-volume site. Please visit cmhc.org/how-to-help for more information.

 

High-volume vaccination site opens amid optimism

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Site launched by Central Maine Healthcare, Auburn, Lewiston and State aims to vaccinate 1,000 people a day

The new regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site launched by Central Maine Healthcare, the City of Auburn, the City of Lewiston and the State of Maine vaccinated its first patients on Wednesday as operations began at the Auburn Mall.

“It’s been absolutely phenomenal how the community came together with determination and enthusiasm for this cause,” said Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “Together, we are amping up our vaccination efforts to protect even more Maine people from the coronavirus. It’s a wonderful day that turns the page in our fight against this pandemic.”

After its ramp up, the site aims to vaccinate 1,000 people each day of operation – or 4,000 per week – as vaccine supplies allow. The site is expected to operate for six months.

Central Maine Healthcare has so far administrated 21,028 doses of vaccine at its hospital-based vaccine clinics. The partnerships around the high-volume vaccination site extends resources to increase volume and expands the reach.

“Since the pandemic began, I have watched our community pull together to fight this thing head-on. And as a community, we have shown unity, strength and resilience,” said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque. “A strong community partnership brought this vaccination site to fruition, and that partnership will make a truly meaningful difference in people’s lives. My sincere thanks to the team at Central Maine Healthcare, to the City of Lewiston and to St. Mary’s for working to make this site possible.”

On Wednesday, the partners, community leaders and volunteers gathered at the mall to mark the site’s first day with a ribbon cutting and a tour before operations began. On the first day of operations, all 312 available appointments were filled. The number of appointments is based on vaccine availability.

“I am pleased that the residents of the LA region will now have access to this life-saving vaccine through a local high-volume vaccination site,” said Lewiston Mayor Mark A. Cayer. “It is yet another example of community partners working together for the health and well-being of our residents. I encourage folks to take advantage of this public health opportunity.”

In addition to operating the site at the mall, community partners are coordinating to ensure that vaccination efforts reach all members of the community. Central Maine Healthcare and leaders from Auburn, Lewiston and the State of Maine are working with Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency, St. Mary’s Health System, Tri-County EMS, the National Guard and the Auburn Mall.

“This high-volume community vaccination clinic helps get shots into the arms of Maine people as quickly and fairly as possible,” said Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD. “As we await more doses coming to Maine from the federal government, we stand ready to vaccinate more residents in Lewiston-Auburn, western Maine and throughout the state. We thank our partners involved in this important effort to protect the health of Maine people.”

Vaccination Appointments

Vaccination at the Central Maine Healthcare-run site at the Auburn Mall is available by appointment only. To check availability, book an appointment or find out more about high- volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917.

For information, please use this website and phone number rather than contacting the mall or the cities.

Vaccinations will take place at the Center Court of the Auburn Mall. The entrance will be through the south entrance, near Thatcher’s.

With the opening of Auburn Mall site, Central Maine Healthcare is pivoting resources from the clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to the high-volume site. Community vaccination clinics will continue at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

How to Help

Volunteers, both clinical and non-clinical, and donations, both financial and in-kind, can support COVID-19 efforts such as the high-volume site. Please visit cmhc.org/how-to-help for more information.

High-volume vaccination site to open in Androscoggin County on March 17

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Central Maine Healthcare, Auburn, Lewiston and State of Maine partner to open clinic at Auburn Mall

Central Maine Healthcare, the State of Maine, the City of Auburn and the City of Lewiston are launching a regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site at the Auburn Mall on March 17.

“We are thrilled that this critical resource will get more vaccine into the arms of Maine people quickly and efficiently,” said Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “By working together with our partners, this high-volume vaccination site will have a powerful impact in the fight against the pandemic. It’s a wonderful example of the community coming together to protect the people we are privileged to serve.”

The high-volume vaccination site is the first to open in Androscoggin County. Vaccination will be available to Maine residents in accordance with the State of Maine’s age-based eligibility approach.

“The entire Auburn team stands ready to help protect our community in any way we can,” said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque. “Androscoggin County’s vaccination rate is lagging behind the rest of the state, so we are extremely pleased to be working with these exceptional community partners to make this site a reality. Its central location will make it quick, simple and safe for our friends, neighbors and family members to protect themselves.”

After a ramp-up period, the site will have a goal of vaccinating 1,000 people a day and, if vaccine supplies are sufficient, operating three to five days a week for six months. During that timeframe, the site is expected to administer as many as 145,000 doses if vaccine availability allows.

“With the announcement of the opening of a high-volume vaccination site at the Auburn Mall, our community is one step closer to a return to normalcy,” said Lewiston Mayor Mark Cayer. “Local healthcare providers have planned and worked collaboratively to bring this to fruition; although work is ongoing to assure accessibility and equity for our community’s senior citizens and our underserved populations. I’m confident we will identify fair access to the vaccination for all residents of this region.”

Central Maine Healthcare’s vaccination clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital have prepared the health system well for the high-volume operation. The system, for example, administered a total of 1,269 does at Central Maine Medical Center and Bridgton Hospital on Feb. 27. In all, the system has administered nearly 16,000 doses to more than 10,000 people within the constraints of vaccine and resource availability.

In addition to operating the high-volume site at the Auburn Mall, community partners are coordinating to ensure that vaccination efforts reach all members of the community. Central Maine Healthcare, municipal and state leaders are working with Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency, St. Mary’s Health System and Tri-County EMS.

Vaccination Appointments

Vaccination at the Central Maine Healthcare-run site at the Auburn Mall will be available by appointment only. To check availability, book an appointment or find out more about high-volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917. Please direct all inquiries to this website and phone number, not to the mall or the cities.

Vaccinations will take place at the Center Court of the Auburn Mall. The entrance will be through the south entrance leading directly to Center Court.

With the opening of Auburn Mall site, Central Maine Healthcare will pivot resources from the clinics at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to the high-volume site. Community vaccination clinics will continue at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

How to Help
Volunteers, both clinical and non-clinical, and donations, both financial and in-kind, can support COVID-19 efforts such as the high-throughput clinic. Please visit cmhc.org/how-to-help for more information.

Familiar faces offer exceptional orthopedic services under different name

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Central Maine Healthcare acquires Spectrum Orthopaedics-Auburn

You know their faces and you know about the great orthopedic care they provide. Now, they’ll be joining with the other trusted name for healthcare in Central and Western Maine: Central Maine Healthcare. The first-rate group of providers of Spectrum Orthopaedics-Auburn, formerly Central Maine Orthopaedics, is now part of the Central Maine Healthcare team and is adopting a new name: Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics.

“We are thrilled to welcome these talented professionals to Central Maine Healthcare. Their addition to the team extends our ability to provide our patients with coordinated, high-quality orthopedic care close to home,” said Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “It’s part of our vision of making exceptional, affordable and convenient care available to more Maine people.”

Joining the CMH team are eight orthopedic surgeons, four physician assistants and more than 80 experienced team members. The practice will continue to provide convenient, exceptional outpatient care at its current Minot Avenue and Rumford locations.

The addition of the practice, the largest orthopedic provider in Androscoggin County, significantly expands Central Maine Healthcare’s footprint of orthopedic services and its orthopedic staff. The system plans to build on this foundation to offer a full range of services to support the complex needs of patients with a wide variety of orthopedic, spine, pain management and physical therapy needs.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 207-783-1328 or visit www.cmhc.org.