Of all the benefits a community may offer, there is none more important than its health care facilities and the professionals who serve the families throughout the area.

The Twin Cities has two excellent hospitals – Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The many satellite facilities associated with them make it easy for residents to get nearby, prompt and first-rate care.

St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, a modern 233-bed acute care hospital, is located near downtown Lewiston. It is operated by St. Mary’s Health System, the area’s largest employer.

Staying on the cutting edge of technology makes it possible to provide the best services possible to the community. A quick, accurate diagnosis is the key to treating any medical issue.

St. Mary’s has several centers for specialized care, including St. Mary’s Center for Joint Replacement. It is Maine’s only dedicated hip and knee replacement facility.

Less than a year old, this center delivers patient-centered care in a healing environment with the amenities of home. The center boasts plush, private rooms with wireless Internet access, flatscreen TV, and one of a kind artwork. Family members are welcome to stay the night and become active participants in the patient’s recovery.

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at St. Mary’s is approved by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. It uses a multispecialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options.

Also available is the American Cancer Society’s on-site Cancer Resource Center.

The Center for Hyperbaric and Wound Care treats hard-to-heal wounds, diabetic ulcers, and carbon monoxide poisoning. This is one of only two facilities in Maine to specialize in hyperbaric medicine.

The Center for Sleep Disorders is a state-of-the-art sleep lab staffed by a “dream team” of medical specialists including physicians trained in pulmonology and sleep medicine, registered polysomnographic technologists, and technicians.

Advanced behavioral healthcare diagnostic and treatment services for children, adolescents, and adults in both inpatient and outpatient programs is another St. Mary’s specialty. Substance abuse treatment programs at St. Mary’s are known throughout New England and are widely recommended.

St. Mary’s also is a regional leader in the area of women’s health. The Corinne Croteau Lepage Women’s Health Pavilion features the most comprehensive array of services for women, from a homey Family Birthing Center to specialized gynecologic and urinary incontinence care.

St. Mary’s WorkMed Occupational Health Services is dedicated to treating and preventing work-related injuries and illnesses. WorkMed offers pre-employment evaluations, physical therapy, OSHA consultation, and many other services to businesses throughout Maine.

St. Mary’s is currently in the process of expanding and modernizing its emergency room, and a large new satellite facility is to be built at Turner Street and Gracelawn Road in Auburn. It marks the hospital’s first major facility in Auburn.

New residents in L-A will find that both local hospitals excel in many areas of health care, and they complement each other with important specialties.

CMMC is one of the three largest medical facilities in Maine and the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute at CMMC provides modern technology coupled with timely intervention and treatment.

Modern communications make it possible for personnel in an ambulance to be in contact with CMMC almost immediately. It’s called “door-to-balloon time” and the new emphasis on rapid access to an angioplasty procedure is much faster than national average.

CMMC also has earned praise in recent years for its Life Flight medical helicopter. Whether used for patient transport or accident rescue, Life Flight has been a frequent life saver.

CMMC has the busiest emergency room and trauma center in Central Maine, and it’s the only accredited chest pain center in Maine.

For the situation that’s not quite Emergency Room serious, there’s the FirstCare Center. This is a walk-in facility for what they call life’s little bumps and bruises.

Another of CMMC’s important facilities is the Sam and Jennie Bennett Breast Care Center.

The hospital also offers the CMMC School of Nursing and the Clark F. Miller School of Radiologic Technology.

It’s relatively easy for new families and college students to locate a local physician in the Twin Cities.

For college students, the campus health facilities and assistance at Bates College, Central Maine Community College and the other educational facilities in the area offer capable care. Nevertheless, there are times when students may be away from campus resources, or people who are new to the area may need quick medical assistance.

That’s when the physician search and referral services come into play. The CMMC service, called Doc Search, is an easily-accessible phone service which can be reached by calling 1-888-832-4057. CMMC’s physicians also can be located online at the Find a Doctor link at www.cmmc.org.

St. Mary’s also emphasizes the benefits of finding a doctor through the assistance they offer in the Physician Referral Service at 207-777-8899 or online at www.stmarysmaine.com.

These are just some of the full range of clinical and medical services that can be found at L-A’s two highly-respected hospitals. Newcomers to the area may also want to take advantage of the several fitness and wellness programs and health screening programs offered at the local hospitals.