Mayo, Millinocket, Penobscot Valley Collaborate on ENT Services
Millinocket Regional Hospital, Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft, and Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln have collaborated to improve regional access to ear, nose and throat medical and surgical care through the recruitment of Brian Miller, M.D.
Dr. Miller, an otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon, will be jointly employed by all three hospitals on a full-time basis, starting in August. He will be spending two days each week at Mayo, and two days
each week, every other week at both Millinocket and Penobscot Valley.
The three hospitals identified a shortage of ENT services several years ago, and noted the difficulty of making timely referrals to otolaryngologists in the Bangor area. Although none of the three hospitals, alone, had the patient volume to support hiring an ENT specialist,they agreed to combine resources to recruit a physician to meet the needs of patients in rural Piscataquis and northern Penobscot counties.
“Collaborating in the launch of this new service represents an innovative way to meet the demand for this specialized level of care,” said Marie Vienneau CEO of Millinocket Regional.”We could not have done this by ourselves.”
Dr. Miller earned his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, and completed an internship in general surgery and residency training in otolaryngology at the University of Utah in 2007. He recently completed a one-year fellowship in head, neck and microvascular reconstructive surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Prior to starting his medical career, Dr. Miller earned a B.A. in zoology from Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., and a master’s degree in biological sciences from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He previously worked as a firefighter/paramedic in California, and a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper in the western United States.
Otolaryngologists are physicians who provide comprehensive medical and surgical care for patients with diseases and disorders that affect the ears, the respiratory and upper alimentary systems and related structures, and the head and neck in general. Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery are other areas of expertise.
Typical medical conditions treated by ENT specialists include removal of the adenoids and tonsils, nosebleeds, earaches, hearing loss and disorders, dizziness, balance disorders, disorders of the outer and inner ear, disorders of the nasal cavity, hoarseness, diseases of the larynx (voice box) and esophagus, including swallowing. Otolaryngologists also deal with the chemical senses and allergies, and the communication sciences, including audiology and speech-language pathology.
Dr. Miller will be performing surgeries at all three hospitals.
In Millinocket his office will be at 165 Poplar street 723-2034.