The experience of illness, injury and medical treatment represent crises of the whole person, engaging one’s values, key relationships and core beliefs.  Central Maine Healthcare is committed to holistic care, providing opportunities for emotional and spiritual support.

Services:

The Spiritual Care Department at CMMC is dedicated to providing compassionate and competent emotional, religious and spiritual care to all who seek our services, regardless of faith affiliation.  Chaplains are a part of your healthcare team.  Services we provide include:

• Bedside visits for emotional and spiritual support
• Prayers, blessings or rituals
• Religious sacraments and devotional materials
• End-of-life or bereavement support and guidance
• Regular rounding on inpatient units
• Family consultation and support
• Assistance in connecting with your faith community

To speak with a chaplain, please ask your nurse for a referral or call x2291.  Chaplains are available for consultation Mondays – Fridays, from 8am to 4:30pm.

The Sacred Space:  A Room for Prayer and Meditation

Centrally located in CMMC’s beautiful Young Wing atrium, the Sacred Space is a place of solace in times of distress.  Welcoming the rich religious and spiritual diversity of our community, it is open to all patients, visitors and team members in need of a quiet place for prayer or reflection.  There is a secured box for prayer requests.  Multi-faith devotional materials and prayer rugs for Muslim guests are also available.

CURRENT POLICY AS OF 5/18/2023

Visiting Hours

Central Maine Medical Center
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Maternity – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Bridgton Hospital
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Weekends – please enter through the Emergency Department

Rumford Hospital
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Weekends – please enter through the Emergency Department

Our Provider Team – During normal business hours 

RESTRICTIONS ON VISITATION

Professional judgment will be used to determine whether visitation should be limited for clinical reasons, or, in the event of a shared room, the needs and privacy of other patient(s) in the room, observing the following guidelines:        

• The patient has two options regarding restriction of visitation:
  • a.      Denied = deny all information; or
  • b.      Restricted = information to be given is restricted as specified by the patient.
• The patient has the right to:
  • a.      Designate persons to be considered as support persons for visitation by communicating this to the healthcare provider orally or in writing; and
  • b.      Designate visitors, change, or revoke the designation at any time.
• Patients may have up to two (2) visitors at one time.
• Designated visitors, along with the changes to designations, should be communicated to the Patient Access Center (PAC) team, Central Registration at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital or the Hospital Operator as noted in the electronic medical record.
• In the absence of restrictions, the patient will be on regular status and the caller will be transferred to the patient care unit.
• In arranging visiting hours, nursing department will balance the patients’ need for rest, with the benefit of having visitors.
• The charge nurse or patient’s assigned nurse is expected to exercise good judgment in limiting the frequency, duration, and number of visitors.
• The organization reserves the right to limit visitation for other situations, including community transmission of disease and other clinical restrictions, the disruptive behavior of a visitor, the impact of visitors on the patient or roommate’s need for privacy (especially during a procedure or test), court orders limiting or restraining contact and behavior presenting a direct risk for threat to patients or staff.
• Visitors’ requests to stay overnight will be granted as long as the patient is located and remains in a single room and the request does not interfere with the medical care of the patient.
• Additional concerns surrounding the safety of patients and staff can be further addressed through a call to Security, the Nursing Supervisor, by using Signal 5000, or as appropriate to your campus. 

VISITATION GUIDELINES FOR MINORS, DEPENDENTS

• Minor visitors/siblings may visit minor patients, when a supervising adult accompanies them and remains present.  In these situations, minor visitors may check on their friend but may not remain in the patient’s room without a supervising adult.
• Minor siblings will not be allowed to stay overnight and/or be responsible for minor patients.
• When the patient is a minor and the PARENT(S) ARE MINOR CHILDREN, the situation should be handled like a parent and child relationship, unless the physician and/or nursing staff identify problems that affect the care and treatment of the minor.  Adult relatives may be included based on relationships and the needs of the situation.
• Minor children shall NOT spend the night with the adult patients.  One identified exception is the breast-feeding mother where a separate adult can stay and assist with the infant.
• Mentally or physically challenged visitors should NOT be left alone and unsupervised with patients; there must be a supervising and accompanying adult at all times, preferably a family member, to avoid distress to patient, visitor and staff.  For situations that require additional assessment, contact Care Management staff for guidance. 

Extraordinary Circumstances:

• Certain patients will require ongoing accompaniment by a family member or other visitor for some or all of their hospital stay.  Extraordinary circumstances include:
  • a.         Patients with significant intellectual disabilities;
  • b.         Patients with unique communication needs, such as dementia/confusion or language barriers that cannot be addressed appropriately through typical translation services;
  • c.          Patients in police custody;
  • d.         Patients from institutions who require near-constant attendance by a staff member with special understanding of the patient’s needs;
  • e.         Patients who require near-constant attendance and have an immediate family member who is willing to be in attendance; or
  • f.           Compassionate care or end of life care. 

Clinical Restrictions

• Justified clinical restrictions may include, but need not be limited to, one or more of the following:
  • a.      A court order limiting or restraining contact;
  • b.      Behavior presenting a direct risk or threat to the patient, hospital staff or others in the immediate environment;
  • c.       Behavior disruptive to the function of the patient care unit;
  • d.      Patient’s risk of infection by visitor;
  • e.      Visitor’s risk of infection by patient;
  • f.        Patient’s need for privacy or rest;
  • g.      When the patient is undergoing a clinical intervention or procedure and the treating health care professional believes it is the patient’s best interest to limit visitation during the clinical intervention or procedure; and,
  • h.      Registered sex offenders in nursing units such as Pediatrics when there are children present as patients. 

Visitor Requirements
In-person visitors must follow infection prevention measures, including:

• Visitors entering rooms of patients on Isolation Precautions are required to adhere to all safety and posted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Visitors are not allowed to eat or drink while in Isolation Precaution rooms.
• Visitors may be asked to leave during aerosol generating procedures (AGP) or the collection of respiratory specimens for patients on Isolation Precautions.
• It is strongly encouraged that visiting not occur during times of acute illness or exposure, but if unavoidable, masking is required.
• Masking continues to be required under the following circumstances:
  • a.      If the visitor is experiencing any respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, or fever, fatigue, body aches, headache or vomiting/diarrhea.
  • b.      If the visitor tested positive for SARS-Co-V2 within the previous 10 days.
  • c.       If the visitor has had a known exposure to a communicable disease (ex. 10 days for COVID without a test, 7 days if tested negative).
  • d.      If entering an area/unit designated for high risk patients or identified as experiencing ongoing transmission of infection.
• Visitors must sanitize hands upon entry and when leaving a patient room.
• Visitors should not wear gloves unless directed to do so by a staff member.
• Visitors are not permitted to bring personal items beyond absolute essentials (e.g. wallet or purse, keys, cell phone).
• Visitors are permitted to leave and return to the building during designated visiting hours.
• Video conferencing and telephone calls may be possible alternatives to in-person visitation and escorting. Leadership will work with the administrator-on-call and the attending physician to make a final determination on whether visiting criteria are met.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENTS
Extenuating circumstances may necessitate deviation from the terms of a policy. It is understood that emergent situations may occur, which require immediate resolution. Where applicable, appropriate documentation should be created to support the necessity for such deviations.

Updated May 1st, 2023

Everyone connected to the healthcare field has a role in making healthcare safe. Central Maine Healthcare believes that our patients can also have a role in ensuring safety.

How does a patient help healthcare providers? By becoming an active, involved and informed member of his or her healthcare team. And as research has shown, patients who become involved in the decisions and the process of their care are more likely to have better outcomes.

We encourage our patients to ask questions. And if you need to ask the same question again, don’t hesitate! Nothing is more important than being informed and feeling confident about your care. You are entitled to question nurses and doctors about your healthcare and condition.

Here are some examples of the things you may want to discuss with your medical team.

Don’t be afraid to inquire about your doctor(s)’s training and specialties, and his experience with people who have your condition.

If you have question about Central Maine Healthcare’s expertise in treating your condition, ask your doctor about the hospital.

When meeting with physicians, write down important information. Or, bring someone with you to write things for you. It might feel overwhelming when discussing health issues. Ask if your physician if he has any relevant brochures to give you. You may also find more information online, at reputable websites, at the library or through support groups.

Make sure you understand all phases of your treatment plan.

Know who will be taking care of you, how long the treatment will last, and how you should expect to feel.

Understand that more tests or medications may not always be better. Ask your doctor what a new test or medication is likely to achieve. Weigh things out; discuss any concerns.

Keep copies of your medical records from previous hospitalizations, especially if they were at another hospital.

Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. If you have hesitations about what the best treatment is, consult with one or more additional specialists. The more information you have about the options available to you, the more confident you will be in the decisions made.

Ask to speak with others who have undergone the procedure you are considering. These individuals can help you prepare for the days and weeks ahead. They can also tell you what to expect and what worked best for them as they recovered.

Go to Maine Health Management Coalition’s website to see how Maine hospitals perform on meeting patient safety standards.

Be sure you understand all medical forms you read and sign. Get clarification if you need it.

Have someone, such as a partner, family member or friend act as your advocate, to help you through your hospitalization. Your advocate can ask questions for you, answer for you if you cannot, and see that you receive the care you need. Advocates need to know your wishes regarding resuscitation and life support. Review consent forms with your advocate. He or she will also need to know what type of care you will need when you return home. He will monitor your recuperation at home and make medical calls on your behalf, if necessary.

During the surgical process, there are also many things you can do to enhance your safety.

Prior to surgery, ask the doctor to mark the area that will be operated on.

Don’t be afraid to tell a nurse or doctor if you are worried that you are receiving the wrong medication. It is important that you know what types of medication you are supposed to receive. Learn all you can about your medications: their brand names, generic names, their purpose and possible side effects. If you don’t recognize a medication, ask about it. If you need to take something regularly, learn your medication timetables.

If you are receiving an IV with medication, either you or your advocate can read the bag to see what it contains; find out long it should take for the bag to empty.

If you are given new medications by healthcare professionals, ask what they are, and inform them of any allergies or bad reactions you have had to that medication or similar ones. Also let them know what other medications you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Before leaving the hospital, be sure you can read the doctor’s handwriting on any prescriptions you have, so that the pharmacist will also be able to read it.

Stay educated about your diagnosis, your condition, the medical tests you may be undergoing, and your treatment plan.

Don’t ever hesitate to question a healthcare professional if you think you are being confused with another patient. Make sure they know your name; they can confirm your identity by looking at your wristband.

Expect healthcare team members to introduce themselves when they enter your room. Look for their identification badges. This is especially important if you are a new mother. Never hand over your baby to someone you can’t identify.

Don’t be afraid of speaking up if you think a healthcare professional hasn’t washed his hands!

Make sure you are familiar with the operation of equipment used in your care. For example, if you will be using oxygen at home, do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke near you while oxygen is in use.

Before you leave the hospital, ask about follow-up care and review all instructions, making sure you understand them.

You have the right to lodge a grievance or complaint about your hospital stay or the care you receive while in the hospital with the Maine Department of Human Services Division of Licensing and Certification. Call or write: State of Maine Department of Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification, State House Station 11, Augusta, Maine 04333. Tel. 1-800-383-2441 or TTY: Maine Relay at 711.

This agency does not address concerns about your hospital bill. Please contact the Patient Financial Services directly if you have any questions about your bill.

You also have the right to contact: The Joint Commission, Office of Quality Monitoring, 1 Renaissance Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181.

Central Maine Healthcare recognizes, values and respects the personal worth and dignity of each patient served by our system. If you’re a patient or visitor with communication needs, we will provide you with immediate and equal access to appropriate and effective assistive communication services and devices.

Assistive Services

• Live in-person interpreter
• Video remote interpreting (VRI)
• Over-the-phone interpreting (OPI)

Assistive Devices/Aids

• TTY telecommunication devices
• Amplified listening devices
• Hearing aid compatible big button phone
  (Braille, strobe light and volume control)
• Special nurse call bell (blow, squeeze, touch, air)
• Baby cry alarm
• Alerting devices for phone and/or door
• Deaf and hard of hearing/visually impaired door sign
• Page magnifier for visually impaired
• Dry erase board
• Pictogram book
• Totes for supplies
• Translated documents in top languages