Central Maine Healthcare

Changing the Face of Healthcare in Maine

coronavirus

“Virtual Visits” Debut at Maine Urgent Care

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Maine Urgent Care Lewiston (MUC)

LEWISTON, Maine — Mainers can now get care for a variety of health issues–from minor illnesses and allergy symptoms to bumps, bruises and bug bites—all while practicing appropriate social distancing. In fact, they don’t need to even leave home, by taking advantage of Maine Urgent Care’s new “virtual visits” program.

The program launched today connects providers from MUC’s two locations—Lewiston and Topsham—with patients who reserve a time online.  The “virtual visit” is a convenient, accessible and safe way to get care for low acuity conditions without having to wait in a doctor’s office or a busy Emergency Room.  Patients aged six months and up will be seen.

“We can help people stay out of the ER, not to mention lower their exposure to the coronavirus and diminish its spread,” said Melissa Caccamo, director of ambulatory and retail service for Central Maine Healthcare. “With a few steps they can be online with a provider while they sit in their living room.”

Once patients reserve their spot online at www.maineurgentcare.com,  (between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.) they will be walked through a process that  includes providing a driver’s license and proof of insurance and taking care of  any charges they might be responsible for, before connecting with a provider.  In addition to diagnosis and instructions for care, MUC can also refill one  month’s worth of non-narcotic prescription or refer patients to specialty  clinics. Abdominal and chest pain patients cannot be treated and should call  their primary care providers or visit the ER.

 

 

About Maine Urgent Care

MAINE URGENT CARE was founded in 2018 with a mission to provide truly convenient, high quality medical care to the communities of central Maine. The walk-in clinics in Topsham and Lewiston are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week to provide prompt medical treatment, as well as convenient services such as physicals, X-Rays, lab testing, and vaccinations. Maine Urgent Care is a faster, more affordable alternative to the Emergency Room.

As a partner of Central Maine Healthcare, Maine Urgent Care is able to connect patients with hundreds of medical providers and specialty services, so they can easily get the care they need, when they need it.

Central Maine Healthcare Takes More Steps to Ensure Safety

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Elective inpatient surgeries postponed, building access limited

LEWISTON, Maine—To ensure the safety of patients and staff during the rapidly evolving situation involving COVID-19, Central Maine Healthcare is postponing some elective surgeries and limiting access to its buildings, system officials said today.

Starting Monday, some elective surgeries involving overnight stays will be put off until the virus hazard has been reduced. This would include bariatric and some orthopedic procedures. Necessary or required surgeries—Caesarean sections and heart valve repair, for example, would proceed.  Same-day procedures like endoscopy and colonoscopy and minimally invasive surgeries, where the patient goes home within several hours, will continue as scheduled.  Providers are reaching out to patients with this information.

This new policy will reduce the number of inpatients at the system’s hospitals and free up beds in the case of a surge of patients. It will also reduce the traffic in the hospitals, thus lowering the risk of virus transmission.

The system has also restricted access to its hospitals, prohibiting most visitors and reducing the number of entry points. At Central Maine Medical Center, patient access will be through the main entrance at 60 High Street. Staff access has also been limited, officials said.

“As our hospitals contend with the very real challenge of screening for COVID-19, while caring for our many patients, it made sense to do everything we could to lower the risk of disease transmission in our hospitals,” said John Alexander, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for CMH. “Our top priority is the safety of our patients, our teams and the communities we serve.”

In another risk-prevention move, on Friday, the system started testing patients for COVID-19 and influenza in satellite screening sites set up near their emergency departments.

 

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.

 

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