RANGELEY — A satellite physical therapy service offered by Franklin Memorial Hospital through Rangeley Health and Wellness for the past 13 years will end as of September.

FMH, as part of Franklin Community Health Network, will continue to serve patients in Farmington.

“Our having a satellite location has always been based on our desire to ensure physical therapy was available in the community. There was a need. However for over a year now someone else, another community resource, has been available” Jill Gray, FMH spokesman said.  “We’ll continue full time through September when our lease ends.”

The hospital has offered physical therapy, with a part-time therapist,  at the Wellness Pavilion on a lease agreement as a nonprofit, Gray said.

This means more space will be available at Rangeley Health and Wellness so it can “expand our health and wellness services to include other providers in order to meet the changing needs of the community,” according to a release from Rangeley Health and Wellness.

“There’s always a silver lining in a dark cloud,” Jeanne Thorvaldsen, Rangeley Health and Wellness executive director said.  “We’re actively looking for a physical therapist and other providers.”

Since learning of FMH’s intentions a few months ago, negotiations continued but Rangeley Health and Wellness started a search, she said.

After completing a third visioning process this year, Rangeley Health and Wellness looked at feedback on community services, needs and what people would like to see. Rangeley Health and Wellness began “aggressively recruiting many types of health care professionals,” she said.

“Our priority is a physical therapist but we’re looking at others,” she said.

These also include occupational therapy, chiropractic services, acupuncture, nutrition and podiatry.

Occupational therapist Kim Gooding and part-time podiatrist Dr. Sharmila Das-Wattley are practicing at the facility.

There is an independent physical therapist in the area but the question is whether one is able to handle all the care, she said.

Rangeley Health and Wellness completed a visioning process in  the mid-1990s when the organization began and again in 2003, she said.

Now in their 20th year, Rangeley Health and Wellness hosted a community  visioning event in April.

“The objective of this event was to identify the programs and services that are important to the community today and for the future,” Thorvaldsen said.

Approximately 80 attended and raised close to 150 needs for the community,  including a local pharmacy, expanded cellphone and broadband services, access to healthy food, a holistic medical center, indoor Olympic pools, community bike path, assisted living facility, Head Start and early intervention program and mental health services.

“Rangeley Health and Wellness is committed to working with other local organizations to attempt to bring these programs and services to our community,” she added.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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