Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston will stop providing neurosurgery in April and is limiting several trauma surgeries effective immediately, NBC affiliate News Center Maine reported Dec. 13.
As of Dec. 13, the hospital will only have ENT and plastic surgery coverage for trauma-related calls about seven to 14 days a month.
The "strategic decision" is one that hospital officials have been considering for a while and "will allow us to focus on areas with the highest community demand, including cardiovascular, oncologic and orthopedic services," Jason Krupp, MD, president of Central Maine Medical Group, said in a statement, according to WMTM.
Central Maine Medical Center's decision to scale back neurosurgical trauma services is expected to have a significant effect on other hospitals in the area, which will be called on to provide care for those with head trauma and brain injuries that are typical after events such as car crashes.
The hospital clarified they will continue to provide 24/7 trauma surgery coverage and orthopedic trauma coverage.
Maine Emergency Medical Services' Trauma Advisory Committee is meeting Dec. 14 to determine how this will affect the state's trauma system and other emergency service providers.