Silverstein to head Evergreen Child Development Center
By Richard Batt

In just a few short months, Evergreen Behavioral Services and Franklin Community Health Network will be creating the Evergreen Child Development Center, a new medical program to help children with special needs and their families. I am exceptionally pleased to announce that Dr. Iris Silverstein has accepted our offer to lead this program. (May 9, 2008 12:01 PM)

Franklin Child Care Hop-a-thon exceeds goals
A whole lot of hopping was going on last Saturday at Franklin Child Care. Nine children tallied 2,272 hops during a hop-a-thon that raised $662 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. May 7, 2008 10:45 AM

Rangeley Region Health Center to host Wellness Day
A Wellness Day for all uninsured or under-insured Rangeley area men and women will be held at Rangeley Region Health Center, 42 Dallas Hill Road, on Wednesday May 21 from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. (May 5, 2008 11:08 AM)

FCHN volunteers honored
Franklin Memorial Hospital's Bass Conference Room was the festive setting for a recognition celebration for the health network's volunteers. (May 4, 2008 2:49 PM)

Biking celebrated at UMF
Thursday was a good day for those who like to bike. (May 1, 2008 2:46 PM)

Dr. White joins Western Mountain Chiropractic in Farmington
Western Mountain Chiropractic & Sports Injury is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Douglas White to the practice. (April 16, 2008 2:03 PM)

Latest technology: Digital mammography
Women who undergo routine mammograms at the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center at Franklin Memorial Hospital and at FMH Outpatient Services in Livermore Falls will soon have the latest diagnostic technology available to them--digital mammography. (May 1, 2008 2:57 PM)

Some of the 7th and 8th graders going to the Maine Youth Anti-Tobacco Summit. In the front (from left to right) is Ragnar Clarke, Joshua Marcellino, Andrew Salisbury and Tucker Hollingsworth. In the back is Janel Brooks, Kasey Gaboury, Ruth Leopold, Mikaela Nida-Eldridge, Cathering Goding, Zion Hodgkin and Syrena Clark.

MBMS Students Head to Augusta for Anti-Smoking Summit
Several Mt. Blue Middle School students are headed to Augusta to be armed with one of the most powerful anti-tobacco tools available. (April 7, 2008 4:01 PM)

FMH to destroy certain x-ray films
Franklin Memorial Hospital announces that it will begin destroying x-ray films of patients who were born before 1985 and who haven't had an x-ray performed at Franklin Community Health Network since 2002. (April 6, 2008 10:58 AM)

A program for grieving children & teens
The programs provide support for children and teenagers, ages 3 to 18 years, who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, relative, or friend.

Update: Proposed MaineCare cuts
I recently returned from meetings with Senators Olympia Snow and Susan Collins and Representatives Mike Michaud and Tom Allen, seeking their support in opposition of pending federal rule changes for Medicaid. (April 29, 2008 12:11 PM)

DHHS cuts for physician care will damage local healthcare
In his letter "DHHS cuts will not put health care system in jeopardy," Dr. Steve Bien, a Farmington-based privately practicing doctor, argues that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) should cut current MaineCare payments to hospital-employed doctors. (March 5, 2008 11:17 AM)

Forum to discuss massive proposed funding cuts by MaineCare Feb. 26
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has proposed sweeping reductions of payments to schools, shelter homes, doctors, hospitals, and community service agencies. (February 20, 2008 9:55 AM)

NorthStar’s Formation Can Inform the MSAD 58 and MSAD 9 School Reorganization Planning Process
Thirteen years ago, five separate emergency medical service programs served this region. Three years ago, Franklin Memorial Hospital led an initiative to merge these services into one regional EMS, now known as NorthStar. While in many ways very different, the regional merger of these five local ambulance services provides many useful lessons for current school consolidation efforts by local school systems, including the potential merger of MSAD 58, MSAD 9, and Highland & Coplin Plantation school programs. (February 4, 2008 11:28 AM)

How to Find a Physician who Matches Your Needs
Everyone should have a primary care doctor. It’s best to find a doctor that you prefer while you’re healthy instead of waiting until you are sick or injured when you have to get one in a rush. (January 15, 2008 12:11 PM)

How to find reliable online sources of health information
One of the best ways you can improve your own health is to be well informed. This applies to both healthy people and those battling disease and pain. If you are healthy Internet can provide you healthy living tips and information about how to reduce avoidable health risks. (December 27, 2007 2:12 PM)

Why are so many doctors today employed by hospitals?
Thirteen years ago, when I came to Farmington, Franklin Memorial Hospital employed three doctors. The majority of doctors in the region had independent practices. Today, we employ 68 providers, and there are less than 10 doctors in the region in private practice. (December 5, 2007 9:32 AM)

Do you need help paying for healthcare? It’s available.
This rural community has one of the best rural healthcare systems in the country. You might expect me to say so as president of our local healthcare system, but it is true: some of the best doctors, nurses and other staff in the country work right here, at Franklin Community Health Network (FCHN) and other local health agencies. (November 14, 2007 12:40 PM)