MaineHealth expands emergency medical services to NH hospital

Exterior of a truck outside an entryway.

Photo / Courtesy MaineHealth MaineHealth EMS has expanded its interfacility transport service to MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in Conway, N.H.

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By Laurie Schreiber

Portland-based MaineHealth, Maine’s largest health care system, said its emergency medical services system is expanding its interfacility transport service to MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in Conway, N.H.

The goal is to improve response times and ensure that critically ill and specialized-care patients can be transported efficiently without unnecessary delays, said Paul Hughes, supervisor for MaineHealth EMS at Memorial.

The expansion takes place this month, initially with one licensed ambulance and crew based at Memorial, according to a news release.

MaineHealth EMS invested in licensed ambulances, trained personnel and medical equipment.

The addition of the service at Memorial is a key part of MaineHealth’s strategy to enhance health care delivery across its regional hospitals.

“When we have patients needing specialized care at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland or need to be transported to Dartmouth, Boston or other hospitals or nursing homes, this service lets us get patients efficiently where they need to be,” said Will Owen, director of emergency services at Memorial.

Being able to move patients without delay ensures that hospitals maintain open beds for incoming patients and avoid overcrowding, Owen added.

In addition to Memorial, MaineHealth EMS operates transport services at Maine locations, including MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington; and operates ambulances in Scarborough, Brunswick and Northport, with plans to expand to Sanford.

Each ambulance is positioned to serve its home base while remaining available for system-wide patient transfers.