Rumford Hospital is seeking applications for the annual Peg Blouin Nursing Scholarship. The scholarship awards $1, 250 to a new nursing student who has been accepted into either an associate or bachelor’s degree program. Interested individuals should contact the Rumford Hospital Office Coordinator at 369 -1232 for applications, scholarship guidelines and additional information. Applications must be received no later than May 21, 2018, for consideration.
Applications are encouraged from new nursing students at any stage of life. The recipient will be chosen by the Rumford Hospital Nursing Leadership committee.
The Peg Blouin Nursing Scholarship was established in 2009 upon Blouin’s retirement from Rumford Hospital, after 42 years as a registered nurse. Having been a recipient of the Auxiliary Scholarship, which enabled her to earn her nursing degree, Blouin expressed a wish to give back to the community.
CMH News
CMH Announces Plans For New, First-of-Its-Kind Health Center in Topsham
Midcoast patients will have convenient, affordable access to quality urgent care, imaging, lab and routine and specialty services
TOPSHAM, Maine (March 22, 2018)—Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) today unveiled its plans to open an outpatient care center, the first of its kind in Maine, in Topsham in July 2018.
The Topsham Care Center, a 44,000 square-foot facility to be located at 105 Topsham Fair Mall Road, aims to provide increased access to high-quality imaging, urgent care, cancer care and lab services, conveniently co-located under one roof. In addition, the center will offer a unique patient experience at a lower cost structure than what patients would experience in an inpatient setting. Rotating clinics will provide a range of specialty care services allowing patients to access the specialty care they need closer to home.
This new center will be the first in a planned network of CMH outpatient centers that complement the health system’s inpatient Centers of Excellence: Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.
“This is a new healthcare delivery model for Mainers,” said Jeff Brickman, CEO of CMH. “We have made significant investments in our services and are committed to providing this community with convenient, affordable access to the quality healthcare it needs, with an unparalleled patient experience.”
To bring this vision to fruition, CMH has forged strategic partnerships with healthcare providers known for their quality, such as New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) and Shields Health Care Group. CMH’s multidisciplinary affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) supports the development of new programs to provide best-in-class options for care. “We are fortunate to have some of the best names in healthcare on-board in this important venture,” Brickman said.
NECS Executive Director Steven D’Amato noted the significant need for cancer care in the area and stated that the new Topsham Care Center will enable his practice to continue the expansion necessary in order to meet the growing needs of patients in the Midcoast region. NECS conducted more than 9600 patient visits at its Brunswick office in 2017.
“CMH’s new facility will allow us the space to expand our staff, including new providers, and add more infusion chairs so patients do not have to wait to get the treatment they need,” D’Amato said. He added, “Thanks to this new facility and our partnership with CMH and Shields, our patients will benefit from having many of the things they’ll need for their cancer treatment journey under one roof, including access to mental health counseling, imaging services and more.”
Carmel Shields, Executive Vice President of Shields Health Care Group, stated that her company is proud to be part of a project that is bringing the future of healthcare to communities throughout Maine. “Shields has been working with Central Maine Healthcare for the past two years, and we are looking forward to expanding our imaging partnership at this new location,” Shields said. Shields Health Care Group will provide a full spectrum of non-emergency radiology services at the Topsham Care Center, including MRI, PET/CT, CT, Ultrasound, Mammography and Echocardiography. Shields continued, “Our reputation for offering the highest quality, most convenient and affordable imaging services directly correlates to CMH’s vision for this center, making this a natural fit.”
CMH and Mass General have been working together for more than a year on several initiatives, including cardiology, oncology and neuroscience programs, trauma care and physician recruitment. Tony James, Senior Vice President of Integrated Care from Massachusetts General Hospital, stated, “Together with CMH, Mass General is bringing our comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to specialty care in Maine to fruition.”
Topsham Care Center at a Glance:
- 44,000 square feet
- Specialty care services with 9 exam rooms
- Urgent Care with 6 exam rooms
- Imaging services including MRI, PET/CT, CT, Ultrasound, Echocardiography and Mammography
- 5,600 square-foot atrium featuring a charging station and open, comfortable seating
- Community room for educational programming and events
- Cancer services offered:
- 14 exam rooms, including a designated procedure room
- 16 infusion chairs with privacy cubicles
- Garden Reflection area for patients, families and staff
- Additional services: mental health counseling, naturopathy/acupuncture
Please visit Topsham Care Center
About Central Maine Healthcare
Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving 400,000 people living in central, western, and mid-coast Maine.
CMH’s hospital facilities include Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital, and Rumford Hospital. CMH also supports Central Maine Medical Group, a primary and specialty care practice organization with a presence in 17 Maine communities. Other system services include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, a regional trauma program, LifeFlight of Maine’s southern Maine base, the Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, and other high quality clinical services.
About New England Cancer Specialists
Our mission is to make life better for people with cancer and blood disorders. To accomplish this, we provide patients access to excellence in medical care and information across the spectrum of cancers and blood disorders.
We are the region’s largest medical oncology group, with nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists on our team. Our providers are nationally recognized for their expertise and experience and provide top-quality care to patients at our offices in Scarborough, Kennebunk, Brunswick, and soon, in Topsham.
About Shields Healthcare Group
A family-owned and -operated business, Shields Health Care Group provides MRI, PET/CT, Radiation Oncology and Ambulatory Surgical Center services at more than 30 locations across New England. Through joint-venture partnerships with as many as 20 top hospitals and healthcare providers, Shields delivers cutting-edge technology, provider expertise and affordability while prioritizing the patient experience above all. Additionally, Shields ProCare offers medical imaging equipment maintenance and service throughout New England. Every Shields center is ACR accredited.
About Massachusetts General Hospital
Consistently ranked among the best hospitals in America by U.S. News and World Report, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is an undisputed global leader in medical discovery, conducting the largest hospital-based research program in the United States with more than $900 million (USD) in annual research funding. Mass General is the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, where nearly all our staff physicians serve as faculty. Patients at Mass General have access to a vast network of physicians – many of whom are global leaders within their fields. Our multidisciplinary care teams are known worldwide for innovations in cancer, digestive disorders, the neurosciences, heart disease, orthopedics, transplantation, urologic diseases and trauma care. We unite specialists across the hospital to offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care for adults and children.
Bridgton Hospital Unveils State-of-the-Art Diagnostic X-Ray Equipment
Bridgton Hospital recently unveiled its new x-ray machine and updated radiography and fluoroscopy room. The new machine produces high-quality digital images and can perform some basic scans in less than one minute, compared to three to four minutes with the previous machine. The digital technology also provides a safer patient experience and allows scans to be sent to the patient’s electronic medical record, giving providers quicker access to results. The investment in Bridgton Hospital’s equipment signifies Central Maine Healthcare’s dedication to improving quality and patient experience throughout the health system.
Pictured: Back row (L to R): Jill Rollins, RN, Director of Nursing; Wenda Saunders, MD; and Matthew Frank, Vice President, Board of Directors. Front row (L to R): David Frum, President, Bridgton Hospital; Alissa Noble, RT(R)(M), Medical Imaging and Cardiac Diagnostics Manager; John Caterine, RT(R), Radiographer; and Steve Googoo, RT(R)(CT), Lead Radiographer.
Kaitlin Dyer, N.P., Joins Central Maine Heart Associates
Kaitlin Dyer, N.P., has joined the cardiac care provider team at the Central Maine Heart Associates in Lewiston.
Dyer most recently worked as a family nurse practitioner and left ventricular assist device coordinator at Maine Medical Center where she provided inpatient and outpatient care to people living with advanced heart failure. Previously, Dyer worked in Maine Medical Center’s Cardiology Advanced Practice Provider Service and as a registered nurse on the cardiac telemetry unit. During her time at Maine Medical Center, Dyer served as the principal organizer for the first and second annual Heart Failure Symposiums.
Pleased to join the cardiac care team at Central Maine Healthcare, Dyer notes, “I have known members of the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute cardiac team for a number of years and am excited and confident to work alongside such a great group of people.”
A high honors graduate, Dyer earned her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, in May 2007. She went on to complete her master’s as a family nurse practitioner at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. There she received numerous scholarships for excellence.
Dyer is a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and has advanced certifications in Cardiac Life Support.
The practice is accepting new patients and can be reached at 207-795-3900.
Central Maine Bariatric Surgery Performs 2,000th Bariatric Surgery
Recently, Dr. Jamie Loggins performed Central Maine Bariatric Surgery’s 2,000th bariatric surgery. Accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) since 2010, Central Maine Bariatric Surgery has a long history of helping patients lose weight and live healthier lives.
Dale Morgan and Gail White, identical twin sisters who underwent surgery in February 2017, just 20 days apart, chose bariatric surgery to lose excess weight and control chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure. Having the surgery at CMMC was an easy choice for the sisters, who are visually impaired, because of their proximity to the hospital and access to CMMC via the bus route. The twins have lost a combined 183 pounds in the last year.
“I decided on my 60th birthday that my 60s were going to be the ‘decade of health,’ and the surgery was part of that,” said Morgan. White agreed, adding that she was looking to increase her energy and that her head and body were ready for a change.
“As we mark the milestone of 2,000 bariatric surgeries at CMMC, we reflect on the improved quality of life we provide for our patients. Being able to see the smiles and tears of joy, share the hugs, and hear our patients say ‘thank you’ is the most rewarding part of working in bariatrics. We’re proud to be a top-quality bariatric surgery center for patients in Maine,” said Dr. Jamie Loggins, FACS, FASMBS, Medical Director, Central Maine Bariatric Surgery.
Morgan and White couldn’t agree more about having their quality of life back, even remarking that instead of dreading having to walk, they live to walk. During the summer, the pair was able to get up to eight miles, and they’ve also been able to stop taking prescription medications.
Another deciding factor for the sisters in choosing CMMC was the center’s bariatric surgery information session that provided honest details about the process. Morgan and White also commented on the thoroughness of the pre-surgery process where they received in-depth medical assessments and learned about healthy living, which has helped them achieve and maintain their weight loss over the last year.
Central Maine Bariatric Surgery offers free informational sessions for the public on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 5:45 p.m. in the Chairman Conference Rooms A, B, and C at 12 High Street in Lewiston. For more information, call 207-795-5710.
Note: Morgan and White are available for interviews. Contact Allison Coombs if interested.
WHA’s Rotating Gallery to Feature Julianne Garvey and Jeanelle Demers in March
The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) Rotating Art Gallery will feature paintings by Julianne Garvey and Jeanelle Demers (pictured) through March. The gallery is located at 60 High Street in Lewiston, the main entrance to Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC).
For Garvey, who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, painting has been a life-long endeavor even while raising her family and running a home-based business. She paints what she wants to reflect on capturing the light and shadows as well as the shapes and movement of a piece. Garvey participates in sidewalk art shows and enjoys commission work. Recently, she has been able to increase her focus on her creative endeavors and continues to share her work.
“I’ve been painting a short series of places I’m attracted to, a theme from different perspectives and different viewpoints. Some are broad views which I like to explore by adding close-up vignettes. Paired or in groups, I like how paintings, always of nature, play together,” said Garvey, “Painting can be a meditation, and so can the art of viewing a painting.”
Demers, a Lewiston-Auburn native, is a professional portrait artist specializing in painting animals. With a home studio in Auburn, she enjoys being able to personally deliver her paintings locally but does ship all over the country. She values the connections she makes and the stories she experiences through her work.
Each painting is created by using a reference photo and acrylic paint on canvas. The vivid colors and high level of detail in Demers’ paintings capture the essence of each subject and the “twinkle in their eyes.” She enjoys seeing her paintings given as meaningful gifts. To see more of her work or to commission a portrait, log on to www.200faces.com.
The artists’ work may be purchased through the WHA Gift Shop, located adjacent to the main lobby at Central Maine Medical Center. A percentage of sale proceeds benefits CMMC.