Northern Light offers schedule care online and skip the hold line

Tim Lacrone

WATERVILLE, ME — On September 21, 2022, all Northern Light Inland Hospital Primary Care practices introduced patient online self-scheduling, a new appointment scheduling option that has been rolling out statewide since June when the online self-scheduling option went live for screening mammograms.

“It’s a great new option for our patients to schedule primary care appointments online,” said Tim Lecrone, director of Inland medical practices. “Our patients have busy schedules, and this allows much more flexibility for them to plan and make their ap­pointments. We’re very excited about this new, convenient way for people to manage their healthcare schedule.” Inland’s Northern Light Primary Care practices are located in Waterville, Oakland, Unity, and Madison.

Community members are still encouraged to call any practice to make an appointment if they prefer, not all appointment types can be scheduled online. Currently, primary care and pediatrics self-scheduling options include: new patient, sick/urgent care for established patients, annual wellness, and nurse visits (including blood pressure checks and vaccinations).

The new scheduling tool can be found in the MyNorthernLightHealth patient portal or at NorthernLightHealth.org using the Schedule Now buttons on the home page. Mammogram schedules can also be found at NorthernLightHealth.org/ScheduleAMammogram – patients do not need a provider’s order to schedule a screening mammogram.

Online scheduling is one of many new online tools added to Northern Light Health’s offerings in 2022. A new, virtual walk-in care service, paperless registration and appointment check-in, patient education, and care management tools having come online throughout the summer and will continue into fall. Hospital leaders say patients and community members have been asking for more ways to access care, stay connected with their providers, and keep their health on track. Online scheduling is the next step to improving the patient experience and increasing access to care.