Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) and County Physical Therapy (CPT) are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement for CPT to assume the outpatient physical therapy treatment of current NMMC patients. As part of the agreement, NMMC will discontinue offering outpatient physical therapy.
“As we all know, the world of healthcare is evolving rapidly,” explained Peter Sirois, the Interim CEO of NMMC. “With this agreement, Northern Maine Medical Center will be able to focus our attention and resources on core services. We will continue to offer full occupational and speech therapy, and we will continue to provide inpatient physical therapy at our hospital in Fort Kent and our Forest Hill Center.”
County Physical Therapy’s founder, Mark Rossignol, said that CPT is also very pleased with the agreement. “As our name suggests, physical therapy is our primary focus, and this allows us to have even more of an impact in the St. John Valley. CPT celebrates our 25th anniversary in 2012, and we have always, and continue to have a philosophy of functional outcome-driven care. We have worked with many NMMC providers over that time, and this will only deepen the communication and interaction between us.”
In a joint statement, both Sirois and Rossignol stressed the positive impact this will have on the residents and patients of the St. John Valley. “This is an opportunity to improve the overall service experience for patients and providers. We not only expect a better quality of care, it will improve the cost efficiency of that care.”
Although NMMC’s is closing their outpatient physical therapy practice, no personnel will be terminated as a direct result. “With a combination of open positions that will not be filled and internal job transfers, no one is losing their job,” said Sirois.
The transition of patients from NMMC to CPT will begin immediately in Madawaska, and by early June in Fort Kent. NMMC will be ceasing operations at their Therapy Works building in Fort Kent, and is negotiating with CPT about occupying that space.
