The hospital is adding isolation rooms to handle infectious diseases and tightening procedures to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
More Maine school kids do without vaccinations
Maine ranks fifth in the nation for kindergartners whose parents have opted against immunizing them against childhood diseases.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Amid threat of diseases, Maine’s top positions for handling outbreaks are vacant
The state says it is ready to handle Ebola even though its top two epidemiologists left months ago.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Pepper-spray incident, other Riverview psych center problems to go before judge for possible penalties
State legislators learn of the review as a court master and the acting superintendent report on the hospital’s problems and next steps.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
State CDC: Patient in Portland tests negative for Ebola, is released
Maine Medical Center did multiple tests for the virus and isolated and observed the patient for two days as a precaution despite ‘low risk’ circumstances.
Posted inBusiness, Health, News
Small businesses in Maine weigh new insurance options under Affordable Care Act
Many owners would qualify for tax credits or could attract better workers under the coverage that begins in 2015.
Posted inHealth, News
Doctors doing face-to-face house calls – over the Internet
Maine health insurer Anthem makes virtual visits a covered benefit, and the cost-saving, convenient trend may catch on.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Patient advocacy group slow to report abuse case at Maine’s Riverview Hospital
Critics say the Disability Rights Center, protector of patients at the Riverview Psychiatric Center, let down the vulnerable victim of a pepper-spray incident.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Riverview psychiatric patients, looking for refuge, find isolation instead
The Augusta-based facility has relied on the use of seclusion and restraints at comparatively high rates, even as national experts have discredited the methods as harmful to mental health.
Posted inLocal & State, News
First case of enterovirus confirmed in Maine
State officials say the child is out of the hospital, and send advice to schools on taking precautions.