MaineGeneral opens Gardiner Express Care as part of increased services for patients

By John D. Begin

GARDINER — Area residents in need of non-emergency medical care seven days a week began benefiting Oct. 7 from the opening of a new MaineGeneral Express Care in Gardiner.
The new practice coincided with the opening of MaineGeneral’s new facility at 5 Central Maine Crossing — a building with nearby access to Interstate 295’s Exit 49 — that hosts a variety of other services.
Starting soon, patients can access Save My Spot via www.mainegeneral.org to reserve an appointment time. With Save My Spot, you can go online, choose your location and time, fill out a basic form and wait from the comfort of your home. You can check wait times online as well.
In addition to MaineGeneral Express Care, the Gardiner facility includes:
* Gardiner Family Medicine * Imaging services * Laboratory services * MaineGeneral Orthopaedics * Workplace Health
Liz Mortimer, practice administrator for Gardiner Family Medicine and MaineGeneral Express Care in Gardiner, said the goal in designing, building and opening the new facility was to provide greater patient access to high-quality health care services close to home.
“It really was an effort to better meet community needs. Many of our local patients previously felt that going to the closest Express Care or to the Alfond Center for Health, both in Augusta, was a far trip,” she said. “So having this third Express Care practice in Gardiner is a huge win for them and also for those from outlying towns.”
Andrew Dionne, M.D., MaineGeneral Medical Center’s chief medical officer, said the new service center is the latest example of the organization’s efforts to meet the primary care needs of its patient population.
“We’ve been pleased by the community response to our Express Care practices in Augusta and Waterville, and recognize that an additional practice site in Gardiner increases our ability to provide our community with access to care for acute health care concerns that don’t require a visit to the emergency department,” he said.
Mortimer noted public response to the new facility and its services has been strong. “Everything we’ve heard from patients has been positive, and they’re very happy with the comprehensive range of services we provide at this new site,” she said.
Comprehensive care in one convenient location
The staff at MaineGeneral’s Gardiner facility is pleased to offer the following services to area patients:
* MAINEGENERAL EXPRESS CARE: Timely care for patients when their primary care provider isn’t available and they have non-life-threatening symptoms. Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 207-582-6608.
* GARDINER FAMILY MEDICINE: High-quality, comprehensive and compassionate care for all ages and accepting new patients. Monday – Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., 207-582-6608. * IMAGING: Appointments and walk-in mammography and X-rays available, including DEXA (measures bone density). Weekend/evening hours for Express Care patients with X-ray needs. State-of-the-art 3D mammography technology available as well as at our sites in Augusta, Waterville and Winthrop. Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 207-588-3580.
* LABORATORY: Extended-hours phlebotomy services. Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 207-588-3590.
* MAINEGENERAL ORTHOPAEDICS: Outstanding, high-quality and personalized orthopaedic care in a technically advanced setting. Services include sports medicine, hand surgery, spine surgery, joint replacement of the hip, knee, shoulder and ankle, treatment of complex fractures, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and a variety of surgical and nonsurgical podiatry care. Offices are located in Augusta, Gardiner, Oakland and Winthrop. 207-621-8700.
* WORKPLACE HEALTH: MaineGeneral’s occupational health and wellness practice partnering with employers to provide services ranging from drug testing to pre-placement medical evaluations to work injury treatment. Offices are located Augusta, Gardiner and Waterville. Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 207-621-7550.

John D. Begin is a communications specialist in MaineGeneral Health’s Marketing & Communications Department.