Lewiston – Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice (Androscoggin), Maine’s largest independent non-profit home healthcare organization is proud to announce the expansion of its palliative medicine offerings with the creation of the Maine Center for Palliative Medicine (MCPM).

The Center’s specially trained and certified physicians, nurse practitioners and multi-disciplinary team of nurses and social workers will collaborate with patients’ primary care providers to deliver whole-person medical care for those with serious and life-limiting illness. The focus of care extends beyond pain and symptom management to include emotional, spiritual and social advocacy, guidance and support depending on the specific needs and desires of the patient.

MCPM will also serve as a resource in Maine to provide specialty education and training for physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals to increase the numbers of palliative care specialists in Maine, thereby increasing access to such services for patients in need. The Center will also collaborate with other palliative care specialists in Maine to advance the science and best practice standards of care for patients with advanced and serious illness.

“Offering palliative services to our patients is not new for Androscoggin,” said Kenneth Albert, R.N., Esq., President and CEO of Androscoggin. “As the number of Mainers needing palliative care has grown, we have invested in the communities we serve by adding additional medical staff and overall expertise in this specialty area of medicine to meet the need.”

Palliative medicine is a type of specialized care that is offered alongside curative or other treatments to provide an extra layer of support that complements ongoing care. The goal of palliative medicine is to provide a better quality of life for patients and their families by providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness. MCPM’s skilled team will help patients to determine goals for care based on what matters most to an individual and their family.

“MCPM really embraces the concept of the whole person, and goes far beyond physical treatment,” said Vance Brown, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Androscoggin. “We’re able to truly honor the lived experience by ensuring both patients and their families are given the opportunity to be fully involved in their plan of care.”

For more information about palliative medicine services at the Maine Center for Palliative Medicine, please call 207-777-7740.