Central Maine Healthcare

Changing the Face of Healthcare in Maine

Cancer center

Distinguished Cancer Surgeon Joins CMH

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Hector Tarraza, M.D., to Lead Central Maine Cancer Center

LEWISTON, Maine —Dr. Hector Tarraza, M.D., a celebrated cancer surgeon specializing in women’s health, has joined Central Maine Healthcare as its new Chief of the Oncology Institute.

Until recently chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Tarraza has had a distinguished career serving thousands of patients in the state since 1988. He joins CMH as the system launches its new Central Maine Cancer Center.

“Dr. Tarraza is renowned in the state of Maine and beyond for his leadership in the ob/gyn field and in healthcare generally,” said Dr. Jason Krupp, M.D., president of Central Maine Medical Group. “Beyond his unquestioned talent, he has a deep commitment to providing care to all communities.”

Tarraza has led or participated in more than 100 medical mission trips to provide needed surgical care to communities around the world.

A graduate of Harvard Medical School, he is double board-certified in gynecologic oncology and ob/gyn and held fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Good health care is a basic right, and providing that access to care is critical,” Tarazza said. “Patients should not have to travel long distances for the services they need. That’s the beauty of the Cancer Center—we will be providing a whole array of care right here.”

He will continue to operate and take cases while leading the Oncology Institute and serving as associate chief of surgery for CMH. “It’s what I do,” he said. “It’s important to me to see and care for patients.”

Joining a new system during a pandemic offers a timely perspective on the challenges of healthcare in the age of COVID-19, Tarraza said.

“When I was a young doctor in Boston, we were seeing the first cases of AIDS—another horrible virus—in the hospital. I’ll never forget having to deliver by C-section a baby whose mom had full-blown AIDS. It was terrifying—there was a lot we didn’t know about it—and there wasn’t the focus on supplies of PPE and other protection that we’ve seen in the coronavirus.

“But, looking back on that time, you realize that medicine advanced with multiple treatments—what was a scary, always fatal virus is now a chronic but manageable condition.  We will get there and prevail again. It just shows you how far we’ve come.”

Tarraza began his new role on April 27.

 

About Central Maine Medical Center

Central Maine Medical Center located in Lewiston, is a Level II Trauma Center serving Androscoggin County and the surrounding region. CMMC’s “Centers of Excellence” include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, the Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit, and a Trauma Services Program. CMMC is also the southern Maine base for LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only medical helicopter service. Supported by the latest technologies, CMMC’s skilled professionals provide outstanding care delivered with compassion, kindness, and understanding. Learn more at: www.cmmc.org.

 

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. 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.

 

Contact: Kate Carlisle | carliska@cmhc.org |703-589-8605 (m) | 207-786-1810 (o)

Central Maine Cancer Center Wins State Approval

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Facility to enhance, consolidate outpatient oncology in Lewiston

Central Maine Cancer Center RenderingLEWISTON, Maine —The Central Maine Cancer Center, a planned $38 million investment for state-of-the-art care at Central Maine Medical Center’s Lewiston campus, has received final approval from state regulators.

The Cancer Center was proposed last December by Central Maine Healthcare, and got the final okay last week from the Department of Health and Human Services.  It will provide convenient, centralized access to the system’s superior outpatient oncology services, along with needed facility and equipment updates, CMH officials said.

“Cutting-edge care, in one convenient, accessible location—this will be of great benefit to our patients,” said Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, CEO and President of Central Maine Healthcare. “It’s part of our commitment to offer greater access to healthcare in Maine.” Brickman noted that the new facility will house brand-new equipment, including new linear accelerators critical for radiation therapy. It will also be home to the Central Maine Cancer Institute, providing multispecialty, team-based care.

Central Maine Medical Center has been providing care to the community for more than a century. As the hospital grew on its sprawling campus, its oncology service become spread out nearly three football fields apart, separating radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgeons. Meanwhile, radiation therapy equipment cannot be replaced in its current location—in one of the oldest buildings at the hospital.

At the same time, cancer incidence in Maine has increased, and Androscoggin County remains one of the areas with the highest occurrence of cancers in the state.

In a letter supporting the project, the Dempsey Center wrote: “The {center} would offer Central Mainers another reason to get the highest quality of care close to where they live and work.”

Work on the new facility is expected to start later this year.

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. 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 Cancer Center, and other high quality clinical services.

 

About Central Maine Medical Center

Central Maine Medical Center located in Lewiston, is a Level II Trauma Center serving Androscoggin County and the surrounding region. CMMC’s “Centers of Excellence” include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, the Central Maine Cancer Center, and a Trauma Services Program. CMMC is also the southern Maine base for LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only medical helicopter service. Supported by the latest technologies, CMMC’s skilled professionals provide outstanding care delivered with compassion, kindness, and understanding. Learn more at: www.cmmc.org.

 

Contact: Kate Carlisle | 207-786-1810 | carliska@cmhc.org

CMH Gains Preliminary Approval for Cancer Center

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Central Maine Cancer Center Rendering

LEWISTON, Maine —The Central Maine Cancer Center, a planned $38 million investment for state-of-the-art care at Central Maine Medical Center’s Lewiston campus, has received initial approval from state regulators. The facility was proposed last December by Central Maine Healthcare. It will provide convenient, centralized access to the system’s superior outpatient oncology services, along with needed facility and equipment updates, CMH officials said.

“Our patients will receive cutting-edge care in one central location,” said Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, CEO and President of Central Maine Healthcare. “The Cancer Center will provide the convenient access to care we are committed to offering.” Brickman noted that the new facility will house brand-new equipment, including new linear accelerators critical for radiation therapy. It will also be home to the Central Maine Cancer Institute, providing multispecialty, team-based care.

The Certificate of Need Unit of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reviewed CMH’s application and this week announced preliminary approval.  Final review and approval is still pending from DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew.

Central Maine Medical Center has been providing care to the community for more than a century. As the hospital grew on its sprawling campus, its oncology service become spread out nearly three football fields apart, separating radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgeons. Meanwhile, radiation therapy equipment cannot be replaced in its current location—in one of the oldest buildings at the hospital.

At the same time, cancer incidence in Maine has increased, and Androscoggin County remains one of the areas with the highest occurrence of cancers in the state.

In a letter supporting the project, the Dempsey Center wrote: “The {center} would offer Central Mainers another reason to get the highest quality of care close to where they live and work.”

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. 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 Cancer Center, and other high quality clinical services.

 

About Central Maine Medical Center

Central Maine Medical Center located in Lewiston, is a Level II Trauma Center serving Androscoggin County and the surrounding region. CMMC’s “Centers of Excellence” include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, the Central Maine Cancer Center, and a Trauma Services Program. CMMC is also the southern Maine base for LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only medical helicopter service. Supported by the latest technologies, CMMC’s skilled professionals provide outstanding care delivered with compassion, kindness, and understanding. Learn more at: www.cmmc.org.

 

Contact: Kate Carlisle | 207-786-1810 | carliska@cmhc.org

Cancer Institute to Enhance Care in Central Maine

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State of the art facility planned for Lewiston hospital campus

Central Maine Cancer Center Rendering

LEWISTON, Maine — Central Maine Healthcare is committing to renewing and enhancing its cancer care program by investing over $38 million in a state of the art facility and updated technology.  The new Central Maine Cancer Institute will become a critical regional resource for comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment.

CMH this week filed notice with the state of Maine that it intends to create the new facility on its Lewiston campus. The new institute can begin welcoming patients within two years, system officials said.

“As we anticipate the future needs of an aging population—with among the highest incidence of cancer located here in Central Maine—we want to provide enhanced access to quality care,” said Jeff Brickman, FACHE, CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “We’re reinvesting in and renewing our cancer program to keep that care close to home.”

Brickman said the new facility, planned for the northeastern quadrant of the Central Maine Medical Center campus, will bring together services and resources currently in different areas of the hospital into a patient-centered, accessible location. New technology and updated equipment will augment Central Maine’s multi-specialty, team-based model of care in the new location.

Some estimates put the number of cancer patients in Central Maine at more than 200,000. Having industry-standard full service oncology services at CMMC—and not having to travel to the next closest option—could save the community $993,000 annually in travel costs and prevent patients from having to drive more than 35,000 hours each year. [1]

“In our growing market for these needed services, we’re ready and willing to invest to provide these services locally,” said David Tupponce, president of Central Maine Medical Center.

Current hospital data shows that there are 42,825 patient visits each year to CMMC’s breast center, infusion clinic, radiation oncology department and oncology clinic.

The proposed location for the new facility is currently absorbed by employee parking, and plans include developing replacement parking in another area on the hospital campus.

Development plans for the Central Maine Cancer Institute are pending state review. No date has been set for construction to begin.

 

Contact: Kate Carlisle | 207-786-1810 | carliska@cmhc.org

[1] Based on estimate of cancer patient population and distance to nearest other facilities.