Central Maine Medical Center Diverts Surgeries After State Identifies Sterilization Equipment Issue

LEWISTON — Central Maine Medical Center is temporarily redirecting certain surgical cases to other hospitals after state health officials identified a problem with equipment used to sterilize surgical instruments in its operating rooms.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services discovered the equipment issue during an inspection on August 21, according to hospital officials. In response, CMMC has placed surgical cases requiring the affected steam sterilization process on diversion, meaning patients are being sent to nearby facilities for care.

"Nonurgent, planned procedures may be rescheduled, while patients requiring more immediate surgical care are being coordinated with our healthcare partners when necessary to ensure timely access to appropriate treatment," a hospital spokesperson said.

The hospital did not provide a timeline for when full surgical services will resume. Hospital officials said they are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible while maintaining patient safety.

"Central Maine Healthcare is actively working on a solution that will allow us to resume our full range of surgical services as quickly and, most importantly, as safely as possible," the spokesperson said.

The state's Division of Licensing and Certification is conducting an ongoing investigation in coordination with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Once complete, findings will be released according to CMS policy, and a Statement of Deficiencies may be issued if appropriate, a DHHS spokesperson said.

MaineHealth facilities have begun receiving patients whose surgeries were originally scheduled at CMMC. MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick and Maine Medical Center in Portland have accommodated several transferred patients so far, according to John Porter, a MaineHealth spokesperson.

"While health systems routinely support one another during temporary disruptions, a substantial or prolonged disruption of planned services at any hospital or practice location can create ripple effects across the state and ultimately affect patients' ability to receive timely care," Porter said.

Central Maine Medical Center, located in Lewiston, is part of the Central Maine Healthcare system, which also includes hospitals in Bridgton and Rumford along with several physician practices. The system was acquired by the California-based Prime Healthcare Foundation in February.

Although the hospital stated its operating rooms remain operational and physicians continue performing procedures that can be safely supported with available sterilization methods, multiple healthcare providers within the system — who requested anonymity over concerns about retaliation — said most surgeries have been affected.

The diversion applies specifically to cases requiring the problematic steam sterilization process. Patients are being evaluated individually based on clinical urgency, with more critical cases coordinated to partner facilities when necessary.