WATERVILLE — Northern Light Inland Hospital closed in-patient services May 27, eliminating a major health care destination for thousands of patients in the area.

The hospital will wrap up administrative tasks in the coming weeks, said Marie Vienneau, senior vice president of Northern Light Health and regional president to Northern Light Inland, CA Dean, Sebasticook Valley, and Mayo hospitals.

“May 27 and June 11 will be spent closing out administrative tasks,” Vienneau wrote. “Providers will be wrapping up documentation, prescriptions and communicating results to patients. Other team members will be organizing and cleaning up, while equipment and furniture is redeployed to other clinics and facilities.”

The hospital has posted information to its website about next steps for patients, including transferring medical records and finding a new provider.

WHAT DO PATIENTS NEED TO KNOW?

• While Northern Light Inland Hospital and its associated Waterville practices and services closed May 27, a few of its clinics and services will remain open across the region. The Northern Light Walk-In Care clinic in Waterville will be open seven days a week under Northern Light Mercy Hospital, while rural health clinics in Unity and Madison will be preserved under the administration of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital and Redington-Fairview General Hospital, respectively. Northern Light Continuing Care in Lakewood will also remain open.

• Letters have been mailed to all primary and specialty care patients with steps on transferring care. Patients can see their provider’s location and next steps online. Those selecting a new provider should request the release of their medical records so the new team has access to their medical history and treatment plans. Medical records can be requested from any Northern Light Health facility or online. Patient portal accounts and electronic health records will remain intact and available.

• If a provider remains with Northern Light Health, patients will be able to seamlessly follow them to their new clinic. Information about providers leaving the organization will be made available when possible.

• Northern Light Health has a provider finder tool available online. Patients can use it to match with a provider who is accepting new patients. Some insurance providers may also offer resources for finding a new provider.

• Patients that have been unable to find a new provider and need medication refilled can call 207-873-1036.

There are other options for emergency and in-patient services in the region. The closest option is MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer campus and emergency department in Waterville, as well as MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield.

Inland’s website will be updated regularly, Vienneau said over email.

“We want to be sure that patients and community members know they can find up-to-date information regarding which practices are staying open, where providers are going, and answers to frequently asked questions at NorthernLightHealth.org/InlandNotice,” Vienneau wrote. “This page will be updated and accessible throughout the summer.”