The Ambulatory Surgury Unit is open weekdays to provide care to those individuals having surgery or minor procedures and going home the same day.  This unit also provides oncology services, as well as infusion therapies. Depending on patient condition, family members are allowed and encouraged to stay with patients in this unit.

CARDIOPULMONARY REHABILITATION

Cardiopulmonary Services offers 2 levels of Cardiac Rehab: phase II and Phase III as well as, 3 levels of Pulmonary Rehab, Phase I, II, and III, Adult Asthma Program, Cardiac diagnostics which include event, holter monitoring, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, tilt table test, and stress testing. Pediatric Asthma Program plans to start in January 2007.

The Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program offer low-level exercise and education to patients who have been admitted with lung disease.  These individual sessions prepare the patient for discharge through education and exercise.

The Phase II level Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab programs are outpatient programs. Participants attend 24-36 monitored and medically supervised sessions, which include a gradual increse in exercise, education on heart and lung disease, risk factor modification, and smoking cessation.

Phase III Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehab Programs are maintenance programs for participants that have completed the Phase II program.  These programs provide ongoing support and exercise for participants who have completed Phase II, as well as for participants who are at risk for heart or lung disease.

Cardiac diagnostics such as event monitoring, holter monitoring, stress testing, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring are performed through the Sigrid E. Tompkins Rural Health Center.

Cardiolite stress testing is performed through nuclear medicine in the Radiology Department.  Tilt Table test are performed in Cardiopulmonary Services.

The pediatric Asthma Program has an anticipated start date of January 2007.

Department hours are Monday through Friday: 0630 -1500.

CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Case Management Services are provided to patients with specific illnesses.  Physicians refer patients to case management who could benefit from having a contact person at the hospital to assist them after they are discharged.  The Case Managers also assist with discharge planning, insurance entitlements, and any other problems that may slow down the patient's recovery. 

DIETARY -  MEALS

Dietary Services include patient meals, Senior Citizen Meals on Wheels, cafeteria, and catering throughout the hospital and in the Community Center for Health Education. Patient menus are distributed each evening at supper time and if you are on a regular diet we also provide a lighter fair menu if you would prefer. These menus are then collected the next morning. For example, Monday night you would receive Wednesday's menu. Please circle the selections that you would like. If you are unable to complete your menu someone from dietary will be able to assist you. There maybe times when the dietary personal may have to select your first few meals, depending on the time of you admission. If questions about your meals come up, please let the dietary personal know and they will be able to answer them for you.

If your doctor has requested a special diet for you, it will be indicated at the bottom of your menu. If you have some special requests you can note them at the bottom of your menu. Your doctor may have scheduled special tests and therefore your meal may be changed or omitted for this reason.

If family or friends want to bring in food for you, please check with nursing or dietary staff first as this may interfere with your treatment if you are on a special diet.

The Cafeteria is open seven days a week at the following times: 

	Monday - Friday
Hot Breakfast: Continental Breakfast: Dinner: Supper:	7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
	Saturday & Sunday
Continental Breakfast: Dinner: Supper:	7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The department offers emergency health services 24 hours a day to patients of all ages. The department is responsible for the immediate assessment and subsequent treatment of any medical or surgical emergency.

For patients requiring care or services beyond the scope or resources of this facility, the ED manages a RN-based transport team which facilities and expedites the transfer of the patient to another facility. This transport team is made up of highly trained nurses to ensure optimum-nursing care at all times.

INTENSIVE CARE 

The Intensive Care Unit is a 4-bed, 1 overflow bed ICU unit, staffed by specially trained personnel providing comprehensive nursing care to critically ill patients.  Centralized monitoring equipment and the expert nursing staff insures optimum care at all times.

LABORATORY

The Laboratory department provides inpatient and outpatient services. The laboratory is staffed 24 hours a day to service inpatients needs. Outpatient service hours are Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Please be sure to ask if you have any questions about the instructions which accompany your test. Many laboratory tests have special requirements, you may contact your physician or the laboratory for this information prior to your visit.

LABOR/DELIVERY/RECOVERY/POSTPARTUM (LDRP) UNIT

The LDRP unit provides is staffed by professional nurses who are specially trained in obstetric, gynecologic and newborn nursing.  The physicians and nurses of the LDRP unit strive to provide the most up-to-date care of our patients in a personalized, family-centered atmosphere.

The LDRP unit also offers:
1. Spacious well-equipped rooms in which expectant mothers will stay through labor, delivery and the post-partum period.
2. Rooming-in of newborn babies with their parents, if desired.
3. Individualized nursing care of each laboring woman.
4. Epidural anesthesia for pain relief during labor.
5. Parenting education including care of new borns and the postpartum process.
6. Lactation consultant on staff.
7. Breast feeding classes and support group.
8. Preparation for childbirth classes for expectant parents - taught by certified childbirth educators.
9. Tours of LDRP for expectant parents and families,

OPERATING ROOM/RECOVERY

The Surgical Services Department is staffed or has personnel on call 24 hours a day to perform elective and emergency surgical procedures.  A waiting area, located by the Ambulatory Care Unit on Level II, is provided for family members.

Your Recovery Room stay depends on the amount of anesthesia you received and the time it takes you to recover. Visitors may be allowed while you are in Recovery, depending on your condition.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

The Occupational Therapy Department is staffed by full-time, licensed and registered occupational therapists.  Department staff sees children, outpatients and inpatients.  Consultations and treatments are available only by order of your physician.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

The Physical Therapy Department is characterized by spacious and well equipped facilities.  A friendly, knowledgeable staff work together to provide rehabilitation services, such as burn care, gait training, strengthening and individualized programs.  Physical therapists also provide patient education on topics such as body mechanics and postural awareness.

Services are provided for patients who are in the hospital and those who require outpatient interventions. Consultations ad treatments are available by order of your physician.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY

This department offer an impressive array of inpatient and outpatient cardio/pulmonary services for the community. Routine, emergent and acute care include the following:

* Inhalation Therapy / Nebulizer Treatments
* EKG's
* ABG's
* Incentive Spirometer
* Rest and Exercise Oximetery
* Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
* BiBap's
* Pulmonary Function Studies
* EEG's
* Sleep Studies

The department is open 7 days a week from 7AM - 7PM with a therapist on-call from 7 PM - 7AM. Outpatient testing is available form 7 AM - 4 PM, Monday - Friday. EEG's, sleep studies and pulmonary function testing must be scheduled in advance of a test. All therapies require an order from a physician.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Social Service assistance is available to all patients.  Social Service staff is available to assist you with discharge planning, arranging for appropriate community or home care services if needed.  This will allow for a smooth transition from the hospital to your home.

SPEECH THERAPY

Speech therapy is a rehabilitation service that is available for inpatients as well as outpatients. The qualified Speech Language Pathologist provides a continuum of services for children and adults, including patient/family education, consultation, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of speech, language, and cognitive deficits, along with oral and pharyngeal sensorimotor function and swallowing treatment. Speech therapy services are available by order of your physician.
 

RADIOLOGY SERVICES

The Radiology Department encompasses Diagnostic Radiography, Fluoroscopy, Tomography and a Dedicated Mammography Suite, as well as Nuclear Medicine, Bone Desnsity, Ultrasound and CT Scanning, and Echocardiography. Magnetic Response Imaging (MRI) is now a fixed based unit, available Monday - Friday.

Tests ordered by your Physician may require some diet restrictions or special preparation, please by sure to ask about the instructions which accompany your test.  Outpatient coverage is Monday - Friday, 7:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

MEDICAL/SURGICAL/PEDIATRICS UNIT

This is an 18 bed unit providing 24 hour nursing care to acutely ill adults and children. All rooms are private on MSP and have televisions and telephones for use by patients. Patients are cared for by a competent staff of RN’s, LPN’s & CNA’s.  The patient's social, educational and spiritual needs are addressed as well with each admission. 

PROGRESSIVE CARE UNIT

The Progressive Care Facility is a department of Houlton Regional Hospital. Provides 24 hour skilled nursing care and therapy services to those individuals requiring extended services after acute hospital stay prior to discharge home.

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ADDITIONAL SERVICES

HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

The Health Information Management Department (in some hospitals: Health Information Services or Health Information Management Department) keeps the medical information for all hospital services.

If you need copies of your records:

1. Call or write to the Health Information Management Department at (207) 532-9471, ext. 148, between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  At Houlton Regional Hospital, we ask that you call at least one day before you need to pick up the information. This allows us time to assure that all the information you need is available and complete.

2. Required information for release of your record:  your full name at the time of treatment, date of birth, dates of treatment, name and address of person or facility to which information will be going, type of information needed (x-ray reports, summary of hospitalization, etc.), purpose for release of information, your signature and date.  Please bring picture identification with you.

3. Written authorization:  the patient or legal representative must sign an authorization or send a letter of request.  NOTE:  A spouse cannot sign for a spouse.  The only exception is for mental or physical reasons, which require proof of such (documentation).

4. Charges:  Houlton Regional Hospital utilizes a copier service which charges for copying records for personal use.  If necessary, a fee schedule will be given to you at the time of your request.  If copies are going to another physician or facility, there will not be a charge.

For questions about how to obtain information, call the Medical Record Department at (207) 532-9471 extension 148, anytime between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday.

SPECIALTY CLINICS

The Specialty Clinic Department has the privilege of providing local access to specialty health care providers, these are normally found in larger health care institutions.  The physicians and staff work together to provide individualized care to patients of all ages.  Go here for more information.

THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION 

The Center for Community Health Education is a multifunctional (conference and education) facility, located at Houlton Regional Hospital, dedicated to providing comprehensive education programs that promote health and wellness, to the Southern Aroostook community. From community health lectures and disease management courses to childbirth classes and support groups, the center provides a wide range of health education and support programs. The hospital also uses the facility to provide continuing education for physicians and staff members. And, many community organizations utilize the center for their seminars and meetings. For more information about the Center for Community Health Education or the programs that it offers, please click here for more information or call (207) 532-5969.

The Center for Community Health Education also houses the Southern Aroostook Tobacco-free Outreach Project(STOP), which offer smoking cessation classes and educates adults and youth about tobacco prevention, physical activity and good nutrition.

VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Volunteers really do make the difference.  Here at Houlton Regional Hospital, we rely on our volunteers for a variety of jobs.  Volunteers filling position such as front desk assistants, gift shop attendants, and receptionists log thousands of hours each year.  With the help of these individuals, we can provide many services to our patients, visitors, and neighbors.  You must be at least 14 years old and fill out an application and complete in-service training.  The Volunteer Department is located on the first floor.

CHAPEL

Our Chapel is located at the end of the concourse and is open seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

The Chapel was made possible through the generous donations of the Sisters of Mercy from Portland, Maine.

PATIENT COMPLAINT/GRIEVANCE

Houlton Regional Hospital's goal is to provide safe, quality and competent care to all of its patients by using accepted application, selection and training procedures.

Houlton Regional Hospital encourages patient input and feedback concerning the services provided.  Patients who have concerns in regards to the services they received are encouraged to complete a patient questionnaire mailed to their residence with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Patients may file a complaint regarding the care and treatment provided at Houlton Regional Hospital by speaking with any staff member, or by contacting the hospital's Administrative Department by calling (207) 532-9471 ext. 152, or by writing to the Administrative Department at Houlton Regional Hospital, 20 Hartford Street, Houlton, ME 04730.  You may expect a  written notice when an investigation into your concern is completed.  In addition, if you would prefer, you could contact the following agency to assist you with your complaint:

Department of Human Services
 Division of Licensing and Certification
 State House Station 11
 Augusta, ME 04333
 (207) 287-2606

Other agencies available to assist our customers are as follows:

Department of Mental Health and Retardation Office of Advocacy
 State House Station 40
 Augusta, ME 04333
 (207) 287-4228

 Legal Services for the Elderly
 Presque Isle, ME 04769
 (207) 764-3396

 Advocates for Medicare Patients
 P.O. Box 2723
 Augusta, ME 04338
 (207) 287-2287

 Medicaid Fraud Control
 Attorney General's Office 
 State House Station 6
 Augusta, ME 04333
 (207) 626-8520