TURNER PUBLISHING • April 5, 2020
There is a sign near the main entrance to the Maine General Medical Center in Augusta showing the walking trails that surround the Alfond Center for Health. In the elevator, another sign touts some of the classes offered by the Hospital, including Hiking & Outdoor Safety and Forest Bathing. These are just a couple of examples of the efforts being made by the hospital to encourage patients and local residents to get outside and connect with the environments in which they live and work. This public health programming aligns with the main goals of the hospital, as well as with those of Dr. Barbara Crowley, the chief transformation officer at MaineGeneral Health. One of the key initiatives of the MaineGeneral system is “preventive health and (supporting) many ongoing programs in communities.”