DAMARISCOTTA — MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital celebrated the opening of its new Infusion Center and Oncology & Blood Disorder Practice on August 31 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by hospital leaders, care team members, board members, elected officials and community partners. The new center brings infusion services together with oncology and blood disorder care in one centralized location, expanding access to specialized treatment and improving convenience for patients receiving care close to home, according to MaineHealth, in a news release.

Located on the third floor of MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in the renovated Wellness and Therapy space, the new center was designed to meet growing demand for oncology and infusion services in Lincoln County while making care easier to access and navigate for patients and families. The facility offers chemotherapy, immunotherapy, IV infusions, medication injections, blood product transfusions, therapeutic phlebotomy, central line care, oncology and hematology appointments, chemotherapy education and social work support.

The project also increases infusion treatment capacity, helping more patients receive timely appointments locally while strengthening coordination between oncology providers and infusion care teams.

"Patients can register directly within the department, reducing unnecessary stops and streamlining their care experience," said MaineHealth. "By increasing infusion treatment chairs from five to nine, the new center will help more patients receive the care they need sooner and closer to home."

With more than 600 infusion patients served last year, the expanded space is expected to increase treatment capacity by 40 percent.

The new center reflects MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital's continued investment in services that meet community needs and expand access to specialized care close to home. The project was supported in part by a $4.5 million Congressional Directed Spending award led by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to expand oncology and infusion services in Damariscotta.

“This new center reflects years of planning, investment and collaboration on behalf of our community,” said Cindy Wade, RN, BSN, MHA, President of MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital. “We are grateful for the support of our US Senators, donors, care team members and community partners who helped make this project possible. Most importantly, this investment strengthens access to care for people throughout Lincoln County by allowing more patients to receive oncology and infusion treatments close to home, reducing travel burdens and making care easier to access and navigate for patients and families.”

“Bringing oncology and infusion services together in one space allows us to provide more coordinated care and better support patients throughout their treatment journey,” said Melissa Brown, Lincoln Hospital Manager of Infusion Services. “The new center improves efficiency for patients and care teams, expands our capacity to serve more people locally and helps ensure patients can access the specialized services they need.”

During the ceremony, Hospital leaders recognized the many individuals and teams whose work helped bring the project to completion, including members of the infusion and oncology care teams, hospital operations and leadership teams, and partners involved in the design and construction of the new center.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow’s caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.