LEWISTON, Maine — St. Mary's Regional Medical Center has announced that it will close its cancer care practice on July 1.
The hospital's current oncology provider is relocating to Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, according to a statement issued by St. Mary's President Cindy Segar-Miller and Vice President Doug Smith.
St. Mary's stopped accepting new oncology patients on April 1.
Hospital officials said St. Mary’s Health System and MaineHealth, Maine Medical Center's parent company, are ending the joint venture they established in 2021 and returning to an affiliate relationship similar to one they had previously.
"As part of this new arrangement, some practice operations at St. Mary’s will be shifted to other locations, or in some cases, patients will be referred to new providers," the statement said. "Urology, ENT, cardiology, vascular surgery, and general surgery will continue at St. Mary’s."
Hospital officials said all patients will be provided options to transition their care within the region, and outreach is underway to ensure a smooth transition for them, adding the Infusion Center at St. Mary’s would continue to remain open for non-oncological services.
Central Maine Medical Center, which partners with New England Cancer Specialists, said it welcomes former St. Mary's oncology patients who want to continue receiving care in the Lewiston area.
“We feel for the patients who have recently learned their local medical oncology care is no longer available in Lewiston,” Dr. Chiara Battelli, president of New England Cancer Specialists, said in a press release from the hospital. “As part of this community, our physicians are committed to any patient desiring to continue receiving exceptional care closer to home.”