MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta celebrated the opening of its new Infusion Center and Oncology & Blood Disorder Practice on Aug. 31, expanding access to specialized cancer and blood disorder care in Lincoln County.
The center, located on the hospital’s third floor in a renovated Wellness and Therapy space, brings infusion, oncology and blood disorder services together in one centralized location. The facility was designed to meet growing demand while making care more convenient and easier to navigate for patients and families.
“This new center reflects years of planning, investment and collaboration on behalf of our community,” said Cindy Wade, president of MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital.
Services include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, IV infusion, medication injections, blood product transfusions, therapeutic phlebotomy, central line care, oncology and hematology appointments, chemotherapy education and social work support.
The center increases infusion treatment chairs from five to nine. More than 600 infusion patients were served last year and the expanded space is expected to increase treatment capacity by 40%. Patients can also register directly within the department, reducing unnecessary stops and streamlining their care.
The project was supported in part by a $4.5 million congressional directed spending award led by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine.
“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.”
