HealthReach Opens Gardiner Area High School “Tiger” Health Center

Gardiner — HealthReach is proud to announce the opening of their second school-based health center (SBHC), located at Gardiner Area High School, next to the nurse’s office.

Cassidy Doyon, FNP

Cassidy Doyon, FNP

The health center is set to open on September 15th. HealthReach looks forward to orienting teachers and staff to the health center ahead of the school year at the upcoming teacher workshop day and meeting families at the upcoming student open house and athletic night. MSAD # 11 and the Gardiner SBHC Advisory Committee invite community members to attend an open house on November 5, alongside parent-teacher conference night at 40 W Hill Rd. in Gardiner.

Services available at Gardiner Area High School “Tiger” Health Center will reflect the same services offered at any primary care office, providing an easy-to-access alternative to a traditional office for families and staff members in need of a convenient healthcare option. The health center will be open: M, T, Th, F on regular school days, from 7am – 3pm and will close any school closure days.

The health center will also welcome a new clinician to HealthReach: Cassidy Doyon, FNP. Doyon earned her Family Nurse Practitioner and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. Doyon’s 13 years of medical experience includes pediatric healthcare and certificates in CLC, PALS, STABLE, and NRP. Her robust background in child and adolescent care will make her an excellent clinician to serve Gardiner students and staff at Tiger Health Center.

With questions or concerns about the Gardiner Area High School “Tiger” Health Center, please contact HealthReach via email at HRCHC@HealthReach.org.

Tiger Health Center, founded in 2026, is a HealthReach School-Based Health Center — headquartered in Waterville, Maine. HealthReach Community Health Centers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 family medical practices and 2 school-based health centers. The HealthReach mission is to serve the otherwise medically underserved. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach is projected to receive $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% to be financed with non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.

 

HealthReach welcomes Assistant Director of Operations, Heidi Richards

Waterville — HealthReach Community Health Centers’ President & CEO, Connie Coggins, is pleased to announce that Heidi Richards has been chosen as the organization’s new Assistant Director of Operations.

Heidi Richards

Heidi Richards

Over the past five years, Richards has served as the Practice Manager for HealthReach’s Western Maine Family Health Center in Livermore Falls and has also led the Medication Refill Department. In that time, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, operational insight, and a deep commitment to our teams and the patients we serve. Director of Operations, Randi Bento, said, “Heidi has played a key role in developing the Medication Refill Department, strengthening workflows, and improving communication across teams. She is widely respected for her collaborative approach, willingness to step in where needed, and dedication to fostering a positive and supportive workplace culture.”

Of her new position, Richards says, “I’m truly excited to start this new chapter in my career. HealthReach is a fantastic organization, and I look forward to serving our communities in a new capacity.” Heidi’s leadership style, experience with the organization, and care for our patients will be wonderful assets in this new position.

Richards joins the HealthReach Executive Team – President & CEO, Connie Coggins; Director of Operations, Randi Bento; Medical Director, Amy Madden; Assistant Medical Director, Melissa Hackett; Director of Behavioral Health, Leslie Lufkin; Director of Clinical Quality Improvement, Tarsha Rodrigue; Director of Human Resources, Brenda Bowden; Director of Information Technology, Scott Reid; and Director of Finance, Donna Williams.

HealthReach Community Health Centers — founded in 1975 and headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 community health centers and 1 school-based health center with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% financed with non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.

HealthReach Partners with Gardiner Area High School to open School-Based Health Center

Gardiner – HealthReach Community Health Centers is partnering with MSAD #11 to open a health center at Gardiner Area High School beginning in the fall semester. Healthcare services will be offered to students enrolled in the Gardiner school district, as well as staff, throughout the school year.

Gardiner “Tiger” Health Center will offer primary and mental healthcare services. These services include routine checkups, sports physicals, diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses, management of chronic conditions, labs, immunizations, and more. Services available at the SBHC will reflect the same services offered at any primary care office, providing an easy-to-access alternative to a traditional office for families and staff members in need of a convenient healthcare option. Locating health centers within schools helps communities by reducing costs for transportation, supporting working parents, and increasing the time each student can spend in the classroom — improving educational outcomes. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, HealthReach’s mission is “to provide high-quality, affordable, patient-centered healthcare in the medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine.”

All enrolled students and school staff are eligible to receive services through HealthReach’s SBHCs, regardless of whether they have insurance coverage. HealthReach provides sliding fee scales, medication cost support, and other pay support options to patients who qualify. Patients are not turned away based on their ability to pay. Additionally, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and most other major insurers. HealthReach will partner with the district to organize exam space to see patients, which will offer convenient, positive health and educational outcomes; but funding for clinical operations — including salaries, equipment, and supplies — is funded entirely by HealthReach Community Health Centers.

HealthReach Community Health Centers — founded in 1975 and headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 community health centers and 2 school-based health centers with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% financed with non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.

HealthReach welcomes new Clinician, Linda Lovrien, LCPC

Albion — This March, staff at the Lovejoy Health Center are happy to welcome Linda Lovrien, LCPC, to their professional healthcare team.

Linda Lovrien

Linda Lovrien, LCPC

Lovrien earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, TX. Lovrien has more than a decade of experience working with patients, and has expertise that includes trauma therapy, grief counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Additionally, her certification as a yoga insctructor helps to inform meditation techniques as a mode of care for her patients. Her extensive range of experience will make her a great addition to the Lovejoy team.

Of her new position with HealthReach, Lovrien said, “I am very excited to be joining the Lovejoy Heath Center family. I am very passionate about sharing my diverse talents with the community and dedicated to helping individuals of all ages navigate life’s challenges in a safe, nonjudgmental, and caring environment. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and exploring all treasures that make this area so special.”

Lovrien joins the existing Lovejoy clinical team — Doctor Dean Chamberlain; Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Daniel Keane; Family Nurse Practitioner, Michelle Breen; Physician Assistants, Diana Dearden, Cory Miller, and Haley Sherman; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Melanie Morin; and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Alyssa Alley.

Founded in 1978, Lovejoy Health Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine. HealthReach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 community health centers and 1 school-based health center, with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% financed with non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.

New Patient Portal at HealthReach improves patients’ experience, offers convenient and secure functionality

Waterville — HealthReach Community Health Centers has launched a new Patient Portal solution, offered by software firm InteliChart. HealthReach patients can now securely access their own medical records, request appointments and medication refills, and send messages back and forth with the HealthReach clinical and front office teams. Advice from these teams helps patients to make better informed medical decisions — including whether the patient should visit urgent care or simply schedule an appointment at the center.

Connie Coggins, President & CEO of HealthReach, says, “We look forward to engaging our patients through our new Patient Portal. The Portal will improve communication channels and provide convenient, safe access for patients to their personal health information.”

Existing HealthReach patients can sign up for the new Patient Portal online with an existing email address by using this link: https://patientportal.intelichart.com 

Becoming a HealthReach patient requires no special eligibility — everyone is welcome to learn more about HealthReach’s high-quality, affordable healthcare available at health centers close to your home in Central or Western Maine. To reach out for information about establishing yourself and your family as patients of HealthReach, or for information on the new Patient Portal, please visit: https://www.HealthReach.org/contact

HealthReach Community Health Centers is a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across rural Central and Western Maine. Since 1975, HealthReach clinicians have delivered high-quality healthcare — inclusive of primary care, behavioral health, substance use disorder, dental, and podiatric services — to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs — including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2024, HealthReach received $4,815,606 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 17.8% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2024, HealthReach estimates 82.2% will be financed with non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.