Rumford Hospital

Elaine Drew, RN, is the latest Central Maine Healthcare winner of the DAISY Award.

The DAISY award is an international recognition program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care nurses give every day. Nurses can be nominated by patients or co-workers.

Elaine Drew has been with Central Maine Healthcare for almost 45 years. She is the program coordinator for the Bridgton Hospital Diabetes Clinic. When she’s not working at the hospital, Elaine can often be found donating her time at local food pantries and providing free blood pressure screenings, diabetes education and wellness screenings to members of the community.

Elaine was nominated by Stephany Jacques, RN, MSN, president of Bridgton Hospital.

“A specific criterion named by the DAISY Foundation is for a recipient to create a culture that empowers and supports all team members,” Jacques said. “The nurse we are honoring today ensures others around her are acknowledged for their hard work and efforts while quietly standing by, enjoying seeing other nurses and team members be recognized.

“Wherever there is community gathering for the greater good, you can find Elaine. She brings caring for the community to a whole new level.”

Pictured: Elaine Drew, RN, surrounded by fellow employees and former Bridgton Hospital nurses

Following its survey in Lewiston last month, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) has granted accreditation status to the Cancer Care Center at CMMC through June 2027.

The Cancer Care Center in Lewiston is one of only four in the state of Maine that has CoC accreditation.

The commission cited the Center’s multidisciplinary approach, strong supportive services, excellent follow-up rates and high performance on several quality measures. The reviewer described CMMC as a “solid and dedicated program” that is committed to providing high-quality cancer care for our community.

“I am incredibly proud of our cancer program team for their hard work, resilience and dedication throughout this process,” said Jessica Gironi, oncology accreditation manager at the Cancer Care Center. “The commitment to quality, patient-centered care and continuous improvement has been instrumental in our success. I would also like to thank the leadership team at CMMC which has provided valuable resources and helped strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional cancer care to the communities we serve.”

The Cancer Care Center providescomprehensive cancer care services, all under one roof. It features a multidisciplinary team of oncology professionals and cares for patients from their diagnosis through treatment. It also offers state-of-the-art technology with two onsite linear accelerators for radiation oncology, an infusion center and a comforting, healing environment.

Central Maine Healthcare is pleased to welcome Charles Stewart, MD.

Dr. Stewart attended the University of Southwestern Medical School where he received his doctorate, before completing an internship in the Department of General Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center and a residency at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Stewart also has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School.

Prior to joining Central Maine Healthcare, Dr. Stewart was a radiation oncologist at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was also the medical director of the Department of Radiation Oncology.

Throughout his career, his cancer treatment focus has been on head and neck, lung, breast prostate, central nervous system and lymphoma.

Dr. Stewart says he enjoys building long-term relationships with patients. “I see myself as a problem-solver and an educator,” Dr. Stewart said. “I actively listen to patients tell their story and work together with them to choose their course of treatment.”

Central Maine Medical Center has once again received the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award.

CMMC was recognized for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report.

Get with The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines.

Central Maine Healthcare is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Angela Dubuc, regional performance improvement director for Central Maine Healthcare. “Get with The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day.

Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people in central Maine live longer, healthier lives.”

Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) will host a Clinic in the Community in Lewiston this week.

The event will be held at Kennedy Park in Lewiston on July 17 from 1-4 p.m.

There will be 21 residents-doctors training to become family medicine doctors- and faculty onsite, performing free blood pressure checks, diabetes and Narcan education.

Healthy Androscoggin will have information about local resources, including preventing substance misuse, encouraging healthy eating, supporting physical active communities and much more.

Health on Wheels, the Maine family planning mobile van, will be onsite, providing reproductive and sexual health care, wound care and more.

The event, which is being held for the third straight summer, is being organized by the Central Maine Family Medicine Residency, Healthy Androscoggin and Maine Family Planning.

“Last year’s Clinic in the Community was incredibly well received, and we’re excited to bring it back this year,” said Patricia Collins, DO, program director for Central Maine Family Residency. “Kennedy Park is such an active gathering place during the summer, making it an ideal location to offer free medical services to people in the community. It also gives our residents a valuable opportunity to connect with community members and gain a deeper understanding of the people they serve.”

For more information on the Clinic in the Community, contact Central Maine Family Medicine Residency at 207-795-2803, Healthy Androscoggin at 207-795-5990 or Maine Family Planning at 207-922-3222.

Pictured: previous Clinic in the Community in Lewiston

Central Maine Healthcare, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, will hold a Commemorative Blood Drive on Monday, July 20.These quarterly blood drives were established following the Oct. 25, 2023 tragedy as a way of honoring the lives of those affected. 

The blood drive will take place on the lower level of 12 High Street at CMMC in Conference Room ABC from 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Power reds and whole blood appointments are available.

Please click here to participate in this blood drive. 

For more information, please contact Amanda Bellefleur via email at abellefleur@primehealthcare.com.

Matt Holzinger, RN, an Emergency Department nurse at Bridgton Hospital, was recently presented with a DAISY Award for the exceptional care, compassion and reassurance he provided to a patient and family during a medical emergency.

The DAISY Award is an international program that recognizes nurses for their compassionate care and the difference they make in patients’ lives. Patients, their families, visitors, physicians and other staff can nominate a nurse for the award.

After a teenager was transported to Bridgton Hospital’s Emergency Department following a seizure-like event, Matt helped ensure he received prompt, attentive care. Family members described Matt as a calming and reassuring presence during an understandably frightening experience. His compassionate demeanor, clear communication and willingness to thoroughly answer questions helped ease their anxiety and build confidence in the care being provided.

The family also praised Matt’s warm personality, sense of humor and professionalism, noting that he balanced clinical expertise with genuine kindness.

Matt’s dedication to keeping the family informed and supported left a lasting impression during a time of uncertainty,” said Stephany Jacques, president of Bridgton Hospital. “Through his exceptional nursing care, empathy and commitment to patient- and family-centered care, Matt exemplifies the values of the DAISY Award.”

For the second straight year, Rumford Hospital’s Emergency Department has received the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Rural Recognition Gold Award. 

The ED was once again recognized for its efforts to optimize stroke care and reduce gaps in rural healthcare outcomes. Performance metrics include intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.

People who live in rural areas have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. The award confirms that Rumford Hospital is committed to changing that.

“We are incredibly proud that our team at the Rumford Hospital ED is being recognized for the important work they do every day to improve the lives of people in the River Valley who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Stephany Jacques, president of Rumford Hospital. “I’m proud of our team’s commitment to stroke care excellence and of this achievement.”