Contact: Caroline Cornish
[email protected]
PORTLAND, Maine 鈥� Beginning May 1, 2023, care team members, patients, visitors and others entering AOA体育平台 facilities will no longer be required to mask in the health care system鈥檚 hospitals or clinics.
AOA体育平台 stressed several key points:
- Anyone may choose to mask at their discretion.
- Masks will be available for those who choose to mask.
- Patients should ask their care team members to mask for face-to-face encounters if they wish them to do so.
- Masks will still be required in areas and circumstances where appropriate; standard and transmission-based precautions must be followed, including interactions with COVID-positive patients.
鈥淢asking has been invaluable in preventing transmission of various illnesses, and we encourage everyone who is experiencing respiratory symptoms to stay home or, at the very least, mask. We will have masks available for all who wish to use them,鈥� said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, AOA体育平台 Chief Health Improvement Officer. 鈥淲e believe that this change will be very beneficial to communications between our care team members and our patients, and will overall help with our provision of care at all levels.鈥�
AOA体育平台 is making these changes in light of evolving epidemiologic trends, the published scientific evidence and what we have learned from the experience of other hospitals nationally. As with all changes, we will monitor impact and respond appropriately in order to keep our patients, care team members and communities safe.
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About AOA体育平台:
AOA体育平台 is a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is 鈥淲orking together so our communities are the healthiest in America.鈥� It consists of nine local health systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and 1,700 employed providers working together through the AOA体育平台 Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 employees, AOA体育平台 provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, AOA体育平台 Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. AOA体育平台 Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the AOA体育平台 Accountable Care Organization in Portland.