Martin’s Point Patient Email | April Edition

As the days grow longer and warmer, it’s the perfect time to embrace the fresh energy of spring to invigorate your outlook and your health. Whether it’s getting outside for a daily walk, taking a moment to assess your well-being, or scheduling that check-up you've been putting off, take the first step toward a healthier, more vibrant you.

Note: When visiting our offices, please wear a mask if you are having any respiratory symptoms. Thank you!

Do You Know the Best Ways to Connect with Your Care Team?

There are two convenient ways to communicate with your provider and health care team:

• Call our offices! You can find our phone numbers here. If you have an urgent medical need, a phone call is best.
• Send a message using the MyMartinsPoint patient portal. To schedule your routine physical exam or ask a billing question, messaging us through the patient portal is simple and you’ll avoid possible phone wait times. Portal messages are answered Monday-Friday during business hours. Depending on the need, a patient service representative, medical assistant, nurse, or provider on your care team will respond within two business days. Do not use the patient portal for any urgent medical needs.
• For a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.

Get the patient portal app for iPhone or Android to manage your care from your mobile device.

For guidance on your best choice—phone or portal—depending on your needs and expected response times, check out our Care Team Connect page. We look forward to hearing from you!

Scheduling Reminders:

• You may notice an increase in automated phone and text appointment reminder/confirmation messages coming from our new number: 207-813-2177. Please promptly respond confirming or canceling appointments so we can quickly reschedule you and offer any opened time slots to patients with urgent needs or on our newly available waitlist.
• Cancellations and missed appointments: We require at least a 24-hour notice to reschedule or cancel an appointment so we can offer openings to other patients. Patients who repeatedly miss or cancel appointments with no or short notice (within 24 hours of the appointment time) may be disengaged from the practice.
• Waitlist option: Wishing to be seen sooner? Ask to join a waitlist to be contacted if an appointment becomes available sooner than one you have scheduled.
• IMPORTANT WAITLIST INSTRUCTIONS: The first patient on a waitlist will receive one text message when an appointment becomes available. The spot will be held for 30 minutes during which they must reply to the text message accepting or declining the appointment. If they do not accept/decline or respond at all within the 30-minute period, the appointment will be offered to the next patient on the waitlist.

We have several new providers who are accepting new patients for select insurances!

Do you have family or friends looking for a new provider? See our latest additions to our medical staff:

Portland:

• Kathleen Burgoyne, PA
• Christopher Mercier, PA
• Emily Louis, NP
• Margaret Lothian, NP

Gorham:

• Jay Fay-Shields, MD
• Jennifer Scontras, MD
• Sheri Clark, NP

March Was Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that there are things you can do to help reduce your risk for colorectal cancer?

• The most effective way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly beginning at age 45.
• Other preventive measures include increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet low in animal fats and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, limiting alcohol, and avoiding tobacco.

Learn more about risk factors, symptoms, and recommended screenings on our Colorectal Cancer webpage.

April is Mental Health Awareness Month / Martin’s Point in the Community

At Martin’s Point, we partner with many local organizations who share our mission to improve the health and well-being of our local communities. One of those partnerships is with The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which aims to save lives and offer hope, combating suicide through research, education, advocacy, and support. To learn more about AFSP and their Out of the Darkness fundraising event click here.