Franklin Memorial Hospital
Franklin
Memorial Hospital is recognized locally and in Maine as one of the
finest hospitals in the country. In a JCAHO accreditation review this
year, a health industry survey that rates hospitals in all areas of the
work they do, Franklin Memorial Hospital earned a score of 94 out of a
possible 100 points. This places the hospital in the top 10-15% of all
hospitals in the United States. This is a clear indication that its work
in serving local communities is high quality and exceeds many of the industry
standards.
All area residents should share in this success. Franklin Memorial Hospital has seen major changes this past year with its two year, $12.5 million expansion project in full swing. Upon completion, this project will guarantee state-of-the-art medical care for western Maine well into the 21st century. Funding includes $2 million in private funding being raised through the hospital's drive: Protecting Our Health: Campaign for Franklin Memorial Hospital. The expansion project is expected to be fully completed in June 2003.
The renovation and expansion project includes a new state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgical Center, major improvements in areas for medical procedures and clinics, renovations of the Surgical Suite to improve patient care and accommodate the latest equipment, a new family-centered Birthing and Pediatrics Unit, a new Community Health Education Center, and a permanent 'helipad' with closer and safer access to the Emergency Room for patients who must be airlifted.
The hospital serves all age groups from throughout the area with a full-service facility, including a busy emergency room, medical/surgical floors, inpatient and outpatient clinics, conference space, an ambulance service, and other services, including a strong diabetes education program.
The hospital has received national attention for its "Contract for Care" program that offers medical care to the area's poor and uninsured, regardless of their ability to pay. Eligible patients can work off the medical costs in various hospital departments. And under the hospital's pilot Health Access Project, 100 economically disadvantaged people are also receiving free or low-cost medical care.
With 35,000 members, the hospital's innovative HealthCard offers discounts at over 300 participating local businesses. The card is designed to connect people with their health provider and to promote doing business in the area.
Franklin County has the lowest death rate in the state of Maine, largely due to a 28-year-old comprehensive, community-based prevention program that focuses on heart health. The SCORE-5 for Heart Health Program of the hospital and its Western Maine Center for Heart Health gathers information and develops personalized action plans in multiple settings, including physician offices, work sites, community sites, and the Healthy Community Coalition¹s mobile health unit. The program began with screening for high blood pressure in 1974 and grew into a comprehensive cardiovascular health care center affiliated with the hospital. This program addresses individual lifestyle factors within the population and cardiovascular health promotion. Rehabilitation within the community and hospital has served as a model well beyond Maine. The program encourages residents to be physically active, eat well, stay tobacco-free and lower blood pressure and cholesterol rates.
A dialysis treatment center that will be run by Fresenius Medical Care will soon open in East Wilton. The Center will serve kidney dialysis patients from surrounding counties who have had to travel an hour or more in the past for this life-saving service. The 5000 square foot center is located at the intersection of Routes 2 & 4 and is being constructed at a cost of $500,000. The center will include 12 treatment stations and also will offer home dialysis consultation and support.
Residents and visitors can be proud of a tremendous health care facility that serves the area well. Franklin Memorial Hospital does it all with pride, innovation, and caring!
Kent Wiles, President | Laurie Blake, Executive
Director
407 Wilton Road | Farmington, Maine 04938
Tel. (207) 778-4215 | Fax: (207) 778-2438 | Email: info@fwcoc.org