New ICU unit

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Medical Center is opening 12 new critical care beds in a new, second Intensive Care Unit in August. EMMC’s current ICU operates near or at capacity on most days. In fiscal year 2007, the ICU has consistently been 90 to 95 percent full.

The new ICU beds are part of EMMC’s larger effort to plan for healthcare needs into the future. The new unit represents state of the art intensive care. The room layout, privacy and nursing observation points are a modern design, completed with the input of patients and families.

The rooms are larger to accommodate modern ICU technology and designed so that families can play a more active role in the support of their loved ones.

As the demand for critical care beds has increased, EMMC has made incremental changes to the ICU, including creating a satellite ICU on the fifth floor of the Grant Tower. The 12 new beds will bring the total number of ICU beds at EMMC to 44, in two first-floor units.

The fifth floor satellite ICU will be used to meet the need of less intensive adult medical patients, but will remain intensive care ready for surge capacity.

The ICU is part of a larger plan to add capacity at EMMC. In addition to this new space, EMMC is applying for a Certificate of Need from the state to further expand the ICU and other adult inpatient services.

Projections indicate that an aging population, increased chronic disease, and improved survival rates for trauma and critical illnesses will require additional beds in the next eight years, hospital officials said. This larger plan would bring the total ICU beds to 60, and locate ICU and supporting surgical spaces closer together.

The new ICU space was unveiled on Aug. 1.

Support for sleep issues

BANGOR – The St. Joseph Hospital Center for Sleep Medicine will present a massage therapist from Pierre’s Wellness Center to demonstrate massage relaxation techniques 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at the St. Francis Center, 294 Center St.

The support group is open to the public and holds meetings quarterly for those with sleep disorders and their family members. Refreshments will be served compliments of Apria Healthcare. To register or to obtain more information, call 262-1774.

Extended walk-in care hours

BANGOR – In order to meet the needs of the region’s busy families, Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Walk-In Care has extended its hours.

Walk-In Care at the EMMC Healthcare Mall, Union Street, is now open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and major holidays.

Walk-In Care is designed for patients who need immediate care for conditions that are not life threatening, such as sprains and minor fractures, sore throats and colds, cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds, muscle aches and pains, coughs, difficult or painful urination, earaches, minor eye injuries, dental pain, infections or irritations, minor burns and back strain.

Walk-In Care is not for anyone with serious or life threatening problems such as heart problems, serious shortness of breath or multiple injuries. In those cases, patients should go directly to the emergency department at EMMC on State Street, or call 911.

Health topics, cooking

BREWER – Dr. John G. Clark will present a series of lectures at noon and 6 p.m. Sunday through Saturday, Aug. 12-18, at the Brewer Housing Authority, 15 Colonial Circle.

There will be healthy cooking demonstrations and free materials. Topics include diabetes, cancer, stroke, arthritis osteoporosis and low-back pain. The noon program will be repeated at 6 p.m. each day.

For information, call 825-3762.