New Martin's Point Facility in Brunswick Designed with Comfort of Patients in Mind

What happens when doctors, nurses and staff members are invited to work alongside a group of skilled architects on the design for a health care facility?

At the new Martin's Point Health Care facility at Cook's Corner in Brunswick, the result
is a sensible, patient-friendly design complete with color-coded furnishings, large windows, a central reception desk and a clear focus on privacy and patient flow.

The 12,700-square-foot, U-shaped building, due to open May 3, is a bricks-and-mortar reflection of a desire by Martin's Point to make a trip to the doctor's office a more pleasant experience. PDT Architects of Portland, with the help of Martin's Point staff, came up with a design that meets the needs of physicians while creating a comfortable, efficient environment for patients.

"This is a first-class facility with comfortable waiting areas, convenient parking and a patient-friendly design," said Dr. Jan Wnek, medical director for Martin's Point. "We couldn't be happier with the way it turned out and we're looking forward to our first visitors."

Centrally located at the corner of Farley and Bath roads, just off Route 1 in Brunswick, the new facility will combine existing Martin's Point facilities in Topsham and Bath, however the Bath office may remain open indefinitely. The Brunswick center will feature four family practice physicians, five pediatricians and a staff of 35 health care professionals. The facility will have more than 20 exam rooms and two rooms for minor procedures.

Also, the new Brunswick center will offer expanded hours, laboratory services, nutritional counseling, cardiology services and health education programs such as smoking cessation, weight control, stress management and other health-related classes.

Ledgewood, Inc. of Portland built the expansive new health care center. The site also has the potential for two additional wings with professional space for lease by other medical facilities.

The design is the result of a special collaboration between Martin's Point staff and our architects, said Donald I. Greer, a PDT architect and Martin's Point project manager.

Early on, Greer met with the site manager, doctors and nurses to gather ideas and talk about issues of concern to them. The health care professionals, for example, said maintaining patient confidentiality was highly important. As a result, Greer incorporated a number of cubicles to enhance privacy throughout the facility.

"We met as often as once a week in the beginning stages," Greer said. "We've had several meetings since. Their input really was invaluable in coming up with a design that made sense to everybody."

Martin's Point staff, as well, thought it was important to find a way to cut down on waiting room time and on confusion among patients traveling from one room to another. Greer said the design addresses both concerns.

Arriving patients will be greeted at a central reception desk, where receptionists will direct them to their next stop. The U-shaped building is divided into two wings, housing the pediatrics and family practice departments, with color-coded main sections in each wing. Patients will find comfortable waiting areas, and others may chose to view educational videos or find general medical information at a computer kiosk. And those who arrive just for blood work or to attend classes never have to walk through the treatment areas.

The blood lab is located behind the central reception area, and the community room is behind that, Greer said. Also, a phone bank with receptionists taking incoming calls is located in the same room with patient files and triage nurses, he said, increasing efficiency and ease of service.

"Our design goal was to balance the needs of the doctors, nurses, patients and others and come up with the most appropriate design that would address the needs of the users who interact within the facility," Greer said.

PDT Architects is a 25-person general architectural firm with offices in Portland and Nashua, N.H. The firm specializes in educational, retail, courthouses, corporate and interiors planning and design. PDT Architects also has performed design work at Martin's Point facilities in Portland and Newington, N.H.

The grand opening for the new Brunswick facility is scheduled for May 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the day, the public is welcome to a tour, refreshments, health screenings, videos and giveaways.

Family practitioners Roy Nakamura, M.D., Eric Lindsley, M.D., Karl Miller, D.O. and Nina Fagles, M.D.; and pediatricians Omar Mulla, M.D., Andrea Tracy, M.D., Norm Seder, M.D., Deborah Patten, M.D. and Jan Wnek, M.D. are moving their existing practices into the new facility. All will be accepting new patients to their practice.

Martin's Point Health Care, established in 1981, is a non-profit health care provider with additional facilities in Portland, Windham and one in Newington, N.H. With a staff of 240 health care professionals, Martin's Point serves approximately 43,000 patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, radiology, cardiology, mammography and other fields. Martin's Point Health Care holds the contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide health care services for retired military personnel and the dependents of active duty personnel and accepts all major health plans and insurance, including but not limited to HealthSource, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Harvard Community Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan, Maine Partners, Champus and Tricare plans.

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