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

Central Maine residents who need non-emergency medical care seven days a week will soon benefit from the opening of a new MaineGeneral Express Care in Gardiner on Oct. 7.

The launch of the new practice coincides with the opening of MaineGeneral’s newest facility at 5 Central Maine Crossing in Gardiner, a building with nearby access to Interstate 295’s Exit 49 that also will host a variety of other services.

MaineGeneral Express Care in Gardiner will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends to meet patient needs.

In addition to the new Express Care services, the Gardiner facility includes:

• Gardiner Family Medicine for primary care needs
• Imaging services: state-of-the-art 3D mammography as well as digital X-ray and bone density testing
• Laboratory services: with expanded hours that include weekend blood draw availability
• Workplace Health: a unique occupational medicine program that ensures area businesses are safe, healthy and productive
• MaineGeneral Orthopaedics clinic: comprehensive care for arthritis, fractures and sprains

Patients will be able to access services at the new site on Oct. 7.

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. She said the site will have a positive impact for patients and the greater Gardiner-area community.

“It’s really an effort to meet community needs. Many of our local patients feel that going to the closest Express Care or to the Alfond Center for Health, both of which are in Augusta, is a far trip,” she said. “So having another location in Gardiner is going to be a huge win for them and also for those from outlying towns.”

Mortimer said what’s unique about the Gardiner Express Care is that it will have expanded imaging and laboratory services on site.

“This will help patients avoid some trips to the emergency department,” she said. “We can offer these services on site and it will help save them the extra co-pay costs that they would incur if they went to the ED.”

Another benefit is that its staff will help connect individuals without a primary care practice to those services.

“It’s an easy way to catch patients without primary care and connect them to our medical staff at Gardiner Family Medicine,” she said, noting that a similar approach occurs at the Express Care sites in Augusta and Waterville.

Andrew Dionne, MD, MaineGeneral Medical Center’s chief medical officer, said the addition of a third Express Care location 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 believe a new location in Gardiner will only increase 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,” Dionne said.

“We also believe Express Care is an extension of MaineGeneral’s commitment to primary care access in our region, as the Express Care sites are all paired in location and administrative support with one of our primary care practices,” he added. “Patients can feel assured that the records generated from visits at our Express Care sites are easily accessed and reviewed by their MaineGeneral primary care staff as well.”

Even though the facility is still a month from opening, Mortimer said the public’s response to it has been great.

“Everything we’ve heard from patients has been positive. They’re excited to come to the new building with all of the opportunities it offers,” she said. “One of our goals for this new facility was to grow our patient population with the expanded services we’ll offer. I’ve already received calls from patients who have been with more southern practices for years and are excited because they live in this community and have called to transfer their care to us.”

To learn more, visit www.mainegeneral.org/gardiner