SMMC PrimeCare and University Health Care agree to expand care in Saco

YORK COUNTY, MAINE - The University of New England (UNE) and Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) are pleased to announce that the University Health Care (UHC) clinic at 655 US Route 1, Saco, will be expanding and become an office of SMMC PrimeCare Physician Services effective December 31, 2011.  

As a result of this agreement, the office will become the site for SMMC PrimeCare Family Practice, SMMC Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine services, and SMMC Walk-In Care, the community's first no-appointment-necessary walk-in clinic for minor medical care needs.  The UNE physicians at the Saco site will practice within SMMC PrimeCare and will continue as university faculty.

Additionally, SMMC PrimeCare physicians will be collaborating with UNE's College of Osteopathic Medicine to provide additional academic faculty support and enhanced clinical opportunities for the University's medical students.  UNE's College of Osteopathic Medicine, located in Biddeford, is Maine's leading supplier of physicians, with greater than 60% practicing in primary care, a field that faces severe shortages in the near future.

Current University Health Care patients who see providers at this Saco office will experience no disruption in their care, as UHC physicians and staff will continue at that site as members of SMMC PrimeCare Services. Letters will be sent to each UHC Saco patient notifying them of the transition.

SMMC plans to add more family practice physicians at the Saco office next year, expanding access to primary care providers for residents of the area.  SMMC's Walk-In Care will be available to anyone, regardless of whether they are a SMMC PrimeCare patient.

"Southern Maine Medical Center and the University of New England have a lot in common," noted Ed McGeachey, president/CEO of SMMC.  "We share a long history of commitment to the health and well-being of this community.  SMMC is thrilled to be able to expand upon the great medical care that has always been provided by UHC at this Saco site, and we are honored to be working even more closely with the medical staff and the faculty of UHC both in providing care to the community and in supporting the education of the University's students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine."

UNE President Danielle Ripich shared McGeachey's enthusiasm for the collaboration.  "This is a win-win for all involved -- the community, SMMC and UNE's medical faculty and students. I'm delighted and proud to be in this partnership with SMMC,"

Marc B. Hahn, DO, dean of the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), stated that, "This announcement is the culmination of months of thoughtful planning.  By working together, UNE and SMMC have developed a model that will enable more people to access primary care more conveniently than ever before in this community, and our UNECOM medical students will enjoy enhanced academic opportunities."

SMMC PrimeCare plans to renovate the Saco office to accommodate additional physician offices, diagnostic x-ray services and the Walk-In Care clinic, which is scheduled to open January 2, 2012. 

For more information, contact Thomas White, UNE, at 207-602-2169.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.