Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Physical Therapy

Therapy Specialty Programs

Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Therapists use a range of treatment approaches to help regain function.  Services include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and customized home programming instruction for patients recovering from:

Sprains and strains
Tendonitis
Bursitis		Amputation
Arthritis
Headache		Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

Back and Spine Care: Physical therapists with specialized training will guide the patient’s active recovery and help them acquire skills for self-management of their spinal conditions:

  • Manual skills for symptom relief
  • Therapeutic exercise instruction addressing posture, range of motion, flexibility, strength and coordination issues
  • Functional restoration and conditioning programming that assists to resume activities of daily living, work activities or recreation
  • Creating a plan for life at home, to optimize recovery and prevent aggravation of the spine problem

Post Surgical Rehab – Continuing Rehab after Hospitalization: Our therapists provide outpatient rehab services to patients after hospital discharge. We support patients following:

Total joint replacement
Surgery for sports injuries
Spine surgery		Trauma rehabilitation
Hand/upper extremity surgery
Reconstructive surgery

CMTS therapists communicate closely with the patient’s surgeon to support an optimal outcome for the patient.

Balance and Vestibular Program: This program seeks to decrease dizziness and improve balance for those who feel unsteady or experience dizziness, positional vertigo, lightheadedness or spinning, or may have experienced a fall.

Work Injuries: CMTS therapists offer services to support the injured worker, which include:

  • Acute injury treatment focused on active, timely recovery
  • Ergonomic review/work risk analysis
  • Education and training to prevent re-injury
  • Work conditioning, restoring abilities to perform work

Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy: CMTS therapists support a comprehensive range of hand and upper extremity conditions including:

Repetitive motion disorders
Post fracture of hand, wrist/upper extremity
Sports injury of hand, wrist/upper extremity
Sprains and strains		Burns
Trauma rehabilitation
Hand/upper extremity surgery
Reconstructive surgery

Treatment services include:

Splinting
Pain management
Joint protection
Post surgical care
Therapeutic exercise to regain range of motion and strength
Work simulation/job task analysis
Scar management
Desensitization
Customized adaptive equipment to support activities of daily living

Lymphedema Management: Lymphedema is the abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid under the surface of the skin, causing swelling in the limbs. We focus on:

Controlling or reducing lymphedema symptoms
Decreasing pain		Increasing independence in self-care
Improving mobility
Long term self-management

Treatment consists of:

Lymphatic massage
Compression bandaging
Exercise		Skin care training
Compression garment fitting

Pelvic Floor Rehab – Bladder Control–Incontinence Management: Physical therapists with specialized training provide treatment and training support to women, men and children:

Urinary and fecal incontinence
Urinary urgency
Urinary frequency
Constipation
Overactive bladder		Pelvic pain: difficulty with sitting, pain with intercourse and pain of the hip, lower back and lower abdomen
Pregnancy/postpartum incontinence/pain
Pelvic organ prolapse

Specific treatment and training is identified for the individual patient:

Bowel and bladder training
Biofeedback
Soft tissue mobilization		Pelvic floor muscle training
Planning and support for self-management at home

Swallowing Therapy: Speech pathologists partner with primary care providers to assess swallowing functioning and develop a treatment plan:

  • Exercises to improve muscle control and strength
  • Compensatory strategy training to compensate for deficits
  • Facial, oral and pharyngeal exercise in conjunction with electrical stimulation
  • Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VitalStim) to retrain swallow
  • Patient training regarding diet consistency strategies to reduce health risks
  • Food preparation instruction

The goal of swallow/dysphagia therapy is to reduce the risk of aspiration and improve swallowing function, allowing the patient to consume food and liquid in a variety of consistencies. Patients may benefit if they have experienced:

Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Head and neck cancer
Neurological diseases		Respiratory diseases
Facial paralysis
Post polio syndrome

Adult Speech/Language Therapy: Speech language pathologists evaluate and treat adult speech and language disorders, including:

Voice: Vocal changes, vocal cord dysfunction and difficulty with vocal quality and loudness. The goal of therapy is to increase optimal vocal pitch, appropriate loudness, resonance, optimizing breathing style, pacing for speech production and vocal hygiene programming.

Fluency: The goal is to decrease or eliminate fluency difficulties, excessive upper body/ laryngeal tension and provide fluency-enhancing strategies.

Dysarthria and Apraxia: The goal of therapy is to develop functional speech strategies and/or determine if speech-based therapy tools would improve communication, which may include technical augmentative communication devices or speech generating devices. Therapy supports communication skills for home, work and community environments.

Pediatric Speech/Language Therapy: Speech therapists work closely with parents, pediatricians and CDS to evaluate and treat all aspects of early communication skills, including comprehension of spoken language, verbal expression, pragmatics/social language skills, articulation/sound production skills, fluency and voice. The goal is to help children attain the communication skills required in education and social settings.

Osteoporosis Program: Therapists design safe exercise and activity programs to improve an individual’s strength, balance and overall function. A customized home program is designed to help decrease bone loss and lower the risk of falls or fractures.

Neurological Rehabilitation: Our team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists work closely with inpatient rehab facilities to support a smooth transition to the outpatient phase of care. Therapy is focused on supporting the patient’s continued effort to regain function:

Brain injury
Post-concussive syndrome
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease		Multiple sclerosis
Spinal cord injury
Other neurological conditions

Rehab programming focuses on enhancing challenging areas of function:

Self-care
Mobility
Cognition		Balance
Communication
Swallowing

You may require a combination of multiple therapies to find relief and restore abilities. Your therapeutic care plan will outline what is needed and evolve to meet your changing needs.

Inpatient Acute Rehab

We offer a full spectrum of inpatient acute rehabilitation services designed to help you recover and get back to normal life as quickly as possible. Because no injury or illness is the same as another, inpatient acute rehab is an individualized process. Every patient receives a care plan personalized to fit their specific needs. Your rehab plan may include:

  • Assistance overcoming balance, mobility and coordination impairments
  • Coaching and guidance to perform activities of daily living, such as feeding or bathing
  • Education and resources to help you learn how to deal with a new “normal” as needed
  • Exercises to help regain movement, strength and endurance
  • Guidance related to assistive devices and equipment that may help after you leave
  • Help overcoming communication or swallowing difficulties
  • Training of family members to help with your care or daily activities

Why Choose CMH? When you need rehabilitation, you want to receive that care close to home. CMH offers specialized care to help you regain abilities and maintain function, located in or near the setting you received your initial care. This benefits patients by providing continuity of care, promoting positive outcomes and return to normal activities. CMH believes in the power of family, allowing family members to participate in their loved ones’ care when possible.

Quality Outcomes: You can feel peace of mind knowing that CMH offers rehab services that exceed nationally recognized quality standards and best practices. CMH maintains CARF International accreditation for medical rehabilitation services. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor, which means that our processes, procedures and outcomes have been thoroughly reviewed internally and by an external team of experts selected by CARF.

Our drive for constant improvement is evident in our quality measures. Approximately 80% of our rehabilitation patients are discharged directly back to the community on completion of their rehab program. This speaks to the quality of care and the thorough approach our providers take to identifying and implementing individualized care plans for each patient.

Acute Rehab Patient Outcomes 2023

Discharge LocationTotal # of Patients: 242CMH Acute RehabRegional AverageNational Average
Home or Community19279%76%81%
Long Term Care or Skilled Rehab2711%9%6%
Acute Hospital219%9%9%
Average Length of Stay 13.8 days11.1 days11 days

Source: Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023.

Contact Us
207-795-2600		Find a LocationFind a Provider

Rehabilitation and Therapy Objectives: The CMH rehab therapy team realizes that every patient has unique needs and creates programs tailored to each condition. Our focus is on what patients can do — identifying their strengths and maximizing independence — and providing appropriate therapeutic programming. We help with a variety of cognitive, perceptual, communication and physical limitations:

  • Use specialized equipment as needed, and adapt to barriers
  • Adapt to life with disability beyond rehab
  • Address swallowing, feeding and nutritional needs
  • Improve personal care such as feeding, bathing and dressing
  • Increase mobility (e.g., the ability to get out of bed and walk)
  • Overcome balance and coordination impairments
  • Overcome communication deficits
  • Regain strength and range of motion in arms, legs and trunk
  • Teach family members to provide assistance

Swing Bed Program in Bridgton and Rumford: The Swing Bed Program at CMH was created to help inpatients transition from hospital-based care back home. Because these patients are allowed to stay in the hospital as opposed to a skilled nursing facility, they receive care from many of the same providers who treated them while they were ill, providing continuity of care. When you receive our swing bed services, you have access to:

  • A case management team to assist in locating resources and preparing you for discharge
  • Central Maine Healthcare’s extensive network of medical specialists
  • Comfortable, private rooms with bath, shower, cable, telephone and free Wi-Fi
  • Infusion, lab, X-ray, pharmacy and other on-site services
  • Our swing bed medical director and providers on-site 24 hours a day
  • Physical and occupational therapy, seven days a week
  • Speech therapy up to five days a week

Who Should Consider the Swing Bed Program? Patients with a variety of health conditions and needs can benefit from this service. Our different offerings include:

Contact Our Swing Bed Coordinator for More Information:
Bridgton Hospital – 207-647-6052
Rumford Hospital – 207-369-1000

Spine Care

Where We Practice:

Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics
690 Minot Avenue, Auburn
Phone: 207-783-1328
Office Hours: Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Request an Appointment

Central Maine Healthcare Spine Care is a leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and image-guided surgical techniques. We are the regional referral center for surgical and non-surgical spinal disorder treatments, including the latest in advanced therapies for treating acute and chronic neck and back pain.

Most individuals with spine conditions do not need surgery to get better. When a thorough exam and diagnosis has been made, we work with you to create a customized care plan, first using non-surgical solutions such as spine-specialized physical therapy, injections and medications. When non-operative treatments of back pain or neck pain don’t offer adequate relief, your provider may recommend spine surgery.

Spine Conditions We Treat

Herniated disc
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis		Scoliosis
Spinal tumors and fractures
Degenerative disc disease		Nerve pain
Radiculopathy
Sciatica (pinched nerve – radiating arm and leg pain)

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our surgeons are fellowship trained in modern, minimally invasive spine surgery and cutting-edge image-guided technologies to perform your surgery with greater precision, fewer complications, and faster recovery. Minimally invasive procedures allow many patients to have their surgery in the morning and be home later the same day to recover in their own homes. This is because, in minimally invasive spine surgery, a smaller incision is made, sometimes only a half inch in length. The surgeon inserts special surgical instruments through these tiny incisions to access the damaged area in the spine. Entry and repair to the damaged disc or vertebrae are achieved without harming nearby muscles and tissue.

While this type of surgery requires highly specialized training and experience to master the use of the tools, it affords tremendous benefits to the patient. The incision is smaller, the hospital stay is shorter, and recovery is quicker and less painful.

A Non-Surgical Approach

The CMH Spine Care team includes board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, also known as physiatrists. Physiatrists specialize in treating joint, tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries.

Many of our patients who have a spine injury but are not ready or a candidate for surgery, typically consult with a physiatrist to discuss the full range of treatment options available to them. Our physiatrists utilize advanced diagnostic tests such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies to more accurately understand the cause of your problems.

If indicated, we may prescribe an injection to relieve your pain symptoms and help you bridge into therapy and perhaps back to a full recovery. A spinal injection can also reveal important diagnostic information about your problem and how best to treat it. Spine injections are performed in our on-site Ambulatory Surgery Center, in a room with a C-arm imaging system which enables the provider to position the pain-relieving medication to a specific location.  These procedures generally take about 30 minutes.

State-of-the-Art Spine Care Center

CMH Spine Care is a state-of-the-art spine center equipped and organized to deliver a level of back, neck, and spine care unmatched in the central Maine area.  Individuals receiving treatment here at CMH Spine Care benefit from a comprehensive suite of first-class resources – all under one roof and just minutes from home.

  • Evaluation by board-certified non-surgical and surgical providers
  • Spine-trained clinical staff
  • Spine diagnostics (EMG/Nerve Conduction Studies)
  • Xray and rapid access to advanced imaging
  • Spine-specialized physical therapy
  • Ambulatory Surgery Center for same-day surgical care

Meet Our Spine Care Team

Keith Lyons, MD, Orthopedics
Michael Regan, MD, Orthopedics
Matthew McLaughlin, MD, Orthopedics
Cynthia Richards, MD, Orthopedics
Angela Michalka, PA-C Orthopedics
Kayleigh Deschaine, Spine Care Coordinator

Lisa B’s Story

“If it weren’t for Dr. DeFrance and his team, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It was clear that they heard me and understood the challenges I was facing. I have a new outlook on life!” 

A dedicated athlete when she was younger, Lisa had 14 surgeries on her knees, which left her with a very poor quality of life. She was determined to find someone who would listen to her and acknowledge her suffering.

“I couldn’t ride a bike with my kids,” says Lisa. “I couldn’t mow the lawn or rake leaves. I’d seen several doctors, and it was frustrating. They all told me I’m too young for a knee replacement and cortisone shots stopped working. The pain was excruciating.”

Then Lisa met Michael DeFrance, DO, at Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics.

“Dr. DeFrance really listened to me. I told him about all of the previous surgeries and the pain. He suggested a double knee replacement, and I trusted him completely to make things better for my mobility and, truthfully, my life.”

After successful surgery, Lisa continued to make progress. She worked with Len Farinas, a physical therapist at Central Maine Therapy Services, conveniently located next door to Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics. 

“Lisa will tell you how often she celebrates the gains she’s making during physical therapy,” Len says. “She’s exuberant, and it’s contagious joy. She lets everyone in the gym know how excited she is.” 

With a new bounce in her step, Lisa is back to being the active person she once was, with absolutely no restrictions on her activity.

“I now play with my grandkids,” says Lisa. “I go out and walk all the time. At work, people walk fast to catch up to me.”

Shoulder Pain

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopedic experts at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, whether that’s physical therapy, pain management and other nonsurgical treatments, to the latest and most effective options in shoulder replacement.

Shoulder Conditions We Treat

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Rotator cuff tear

Help You Get Back in Motion

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include therapy services, anti-inflammatory medications or other conservative treatments.

Sometimes, though, surgery may be your best solution for lasting relief. At OICM, we proud to offer a shoulder replacement program that has earned the Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission for providing the highest, national standards of care, right here at home.

Our skilled surgeons specialize in total shoulder replacement, as well as reverse shoulder replacement for completely torn rotator cuffs. We use some of the most minimally invasive techniques available, often offering much less post-operative pain, a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and a more natural-feeling joint.

Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Cancer Rehabilitation

Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed or well into survivorship, cancer rehabilitation can play a vital role in the recovery process. At Central Maine Healthcare, our comprehensive rehabilitation program is focused on helping you manage the effects of cancer and its treatment, so you can get back to doing what you need and love to do.

Dedicated Team, Personalized Plans

Our cancer rehabilitation program includes your own dedicated, multi-skilled team—including physical, occupational and speech therapists, physiatrists, specially trained nurses, dietitians, mental health professionals and more. These experts work closely together, with your oncologists and with you to create a personalized plan based on your unique needs and goals. We’ll also work with your health insurance provider to help determine coverage.

Ways we can help include: 

  • Improving physical strength
  • Managing common symptoms of cancer its treatment, including pain, fatigue and sleep problems
  • Increasing your ability to care for yourself and perform daily activities
  • Adjusting to actual, perceived and potential losses
  • Reducing anxiety and depression
  • Reducing hospital stays

Specialized Lymphedema Therapy

With some cancer surgeries, lymph nodes and the attached vessels may need to be removed. That can sometimes result in painful swelling in the arms and legs, called lymphedema.

Our licensed lymphedema therapists provide a variety of treatments to help control these symptoms, including education, manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, skin care and self-management techniques and appropriate exercise.

Faster Discharge

As one of only three acute rehabilitation centers in the state of Maine, we can provide three hours of therapy per patient per week, which is much more than a skilled nursing unit is able to offer. That means a much shorter average length of stay for our patients. We’re focused on getting you home.

Orthopedic Conditions We Treat

Whether you’re dealing with a recent injury or chronic condition, you don’t have to live with pain.

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) offers nationally recognized care for all types of problems affecting the joints, bones, muscles and tendons. Our multi-skilled team – including board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, specially trained nurses, physical therapists and more – work closely together and with you to create a custom treatment plan.

Here, you’ll find a full continuum of care, from advanced diagnostic imaging to rehabilitation and other nonsurgical options. If surgery is your best solution, we offer some of the most minimally invasive techniques available, including the latest in total and partial joint replacement for less pain and faster recovery.

So whether you want to run a marathon or just enjoy a pain-free routine, know that world-class care is right here in the heart of Maine.

Knee Pain

Your knee is the largest joint in your body, which also makes it vulnerable to injury or other problems. Sports, exercise and general wear and tear can cause muscle strains, tendinitis and more serious injuries to ligaments and cartilage. Chronic conditions like arthritis can also cause cartilage to break down as you age. All of these can lead to serious knee pain and keep you from living a full and active life.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopedic experts at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, whether that’s physical therapy, pain management and other nonsurgical treatments, to the latest and most effective options in knee replacement.

Knee Conditions We Treat

Just some of our specialties include:

  • ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury
  • MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury
  • PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) injury
  • Torn cartilage
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Post-traumatic arthritis

Help You Get Back in Motion

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include therapy services, anti-inflammatory medications or other conservative treatments.

Sometimes, though, surgery may be your best solution for lasting relief. At OICM, we proud to offer a knee replacement program that has earned the Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission for providing the highest, national standards of care, right here at home.

Our skilled surgeons specialize in total knee replacement, as well as partial knee replacement if the problem is confined to one area of the knee. We use some of the most minimally invasive techniques available, often offering much less post-operative pain, a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and a more natural-feeling joint.

And we’ll be there to support you every step of the way, from pre-surgery education through personalized rehabilitation and back to the life you love.

Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Hip Pain

As one of your body’s largest and most flexible joints, the hip is designed to withstand a good amount of wear and tear. But despite its durability, the hip isn’t problem-proof. Age- and injury-related arthritis can cause cartilage to break down. Muscles and tendons can tear from overuse. The hip bone itself can break from a fall or another injury. All of which can lead to serious hip pain and keep you from the active life you love.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopedic experts at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, whether that’s physical therapy, pain management and other nonsurgical treatments, to the latest and most effective options in hip replacement.

Hip Conditions We Treat

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • A former failed hip replacement

Help You Get Back in Motion

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include therapy services, anti-inflammatory medications or other conservative treatments.

Sometimes, though, surgery may be your best solution for lasting relief. At OICM, we proud to offer a hip replacement program that has earned the Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission for providing the highest, national standards of care, right here at home.

You may benefit from the latest minimally invasive options like anterior hip replacement. This innovative technique is performed through a single incision on the front of the hip, as opposed to the side or back, so the joint can be replaced without disturbing surrounding tissue. For you, this may offer a variety of benefits, including less pain and faster recovery.

And we’ll there to support you every step of the way, from pre-surgery education through personalized rehabilitation and life with your new joint.

Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Foot and Ankle Pain

We ask a lot of our feet over the years — from walking to running to hiking and more. In fact, the average person takes about 6,000 steps a day. To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 110 million steps in 50 years.

It makes sense, then, that with all this wear and tear that our feet and ankles often develop problems like shooting pains, stiffness or swelling. Left untreated, the nagging pain can become unbearable and keep you from what you need and love to do.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopedists and podiatrists at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, with options ranging from custom orthotics and exercise programs to the latest, minimally invasive surgical options.

Conditions We Treat

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Bone or heel spurs
  • Bunions or corns
  • Bursitis
  • Clubfoot
  • Diabetic foot
  • Hammertoe
  • Fractures
  • Gout
  • Morton’s neuroma
  • Osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis or traumatic arthritis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Sprained and strained ankle
  • Stress fractures
  • Tendonitis
  • Tendon ruptures

Helping You Put the Spring Back in Your Step

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include conservative treatment such as modifying footwear, following a specific exercise program and medication.

However, if none of these changes manage or resolve your pain, surgery may be the most effective treatment option for you. At OICM, foot and ankle surgery are generally outpatient day surgeries, which means no overnight stay and quick recovery, so you can get back to your life as quickly as possible.

We also specialize in treatments for foot problems caused by diabetes, a common issue for our central and western Maine communities. That includes surgical (or sharp) debridement, the gold standard treatment for severe diabetic foot infections. The procedure cleans out any dead or infected tissue, helping stop the growth of bacteria and making it easier for the body to develop healthy new tissue.

Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine