Orthopedics

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Emergencies happen when you least expect them, but rest assured, Central Maine Healthcare is here when you need us.

We offer three ERs right in the communities we serve – each staffed 24/7 with board-certified emergency physicians and specially trained nurses, plus direct access to specialists, advanced technology and more resources from one of the largest integrated health systems in the state.

From chest pain to trauma, broken bones to stroke, know that expert care is always around the corner.

Find an Emergency Room Near You

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Why Choose Us?

• 24-hour coverage by general surgeons and on-call access to neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and more specialists to meet your needs
• Trauma Center, providing specialized care for critical injuries
• Onsite lab and imaging services, including CT and MRI to rapidly diagnose serious conditions
• Nationally Certified Chest Pain Center in Lewiston for those suffering symptoms of a heart attack
• Leading-edge stroke care ranked in the top percentile nationwide by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

Emergency Medical Transport

Central Maine Healthcare works closely with both local and state emergency transport services to ensure patients throughout our communities receive the critical medical care they need as quickly as possible.

By Ground: Ambulance Service

Emergency Medical Services (EMS), also known as ambulance teams or paramedic services) are our first line of care. They are always at the ready, 24/7, to respond to an emergency or crisis, provide short-term interventions during transport and deliver a patient to a Central Maine ER with both speed and care.

By Air: LifeFlight

Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) in Lewiston is a home base for LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only medical helicopter service. We transport critical trauma patients to CMMC for quick care, and our helicopter pads at Bridgton and Rumford allow rapid transfer of critically ill or injured patients to CMMC. This network helps us provide faster treatment, leading to better outcomes.

Emergency Care FAQ

Central Maine Healthcare is committed to making a trip to the emergency room as stress-free as possible. We’ve prepared this information so you know just what to expect at every step.

What happens when I arrive?
First, you will meet a registrar at the registration desk. The registrar will ask you a few questions and open a record for you in the hospital’s computer system. Then our triage nurse evaluates your symptoms, vital signs and other information to help prioritize your care.

Why did someone else get seen before me, when I got here first? 
The triage process identifies more seriously ill and injured patients who need higher priority care. This means that patients may not be seen by care providers in the same order in which they are registered and triaged.  For example, someone having a heart attack demands immediate attention and will be seen before someone with a fever, cough or even broken bone.

What happens after triage?
You may be escorted to a treatment room or asked to wait in the waiting area, depending upon the seriousness of your illness and available treatment space. Even if space is not immediately available, a care provider may begin any necessary tests, such as blood work or a urine sample.

What happens in the treatment area? 
Once you are in a treatment room, you will be evaluated by a physician, a physician assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP). An emergency nurse will also assist.

Following your evaluation, your care provider may order additional testing and treatments. An emergency nurse will monitor your condition. The nurse will also give you any medications prescribed by the emergency care provider. If you feel your condition is changing, do not hesitate to tell your nurse or other care provider.

How long will the wait be?
Although everyone’s experience is different, the average visit to any CMH Emergency Department is about two and a half hours. Many visits are shorter, and some are longer.

What happens after I am treated? 
When all necessary treatments and procedures are complete and test results are reviewed, your care provider will decide if you will be discharged home, admitted to the CMH system as an inpatient, or transferred to a different hospital.

Patients who are discharged home are provided with complete after-care instructions. If you are advised to contact your primary care provider, it is very important that you do so.

If you have any questions after discharge, please call the Emergency Department you visited:

Central Maine Medical Center: (207) 795-2200
Bridgton Hospital: (207) 647-6070
Rumford Hospital: (207) 369-1051