SPRINGVALE — When Nasson Health Care began providing services 12 years ago in Sanford, it was called Spruce Street Health Center. Later, the center became York County Health Care, when it moved to Patriot Lane.

The program grew and by 2013, Nasson Health Care was established in a building on the old, long-shuttered Nasson College campus in Springvale.

Recently, Nasson Health Care expanded to Biddeford, where services are offered at 2 Springbrook Drive. As well, in Springvale, there is a satellite office at Maine Behavioral health, nearby the main health care campus.

The health care center, an arm of York County Community Action Corporation, recently moved its dental program to the top floor of the Nasson Health Center, so that it now occupies an entire suite of its own, said Communications Director Brad Bohon. 

“We’re experiencing what can best be described as an adolescent growth spurt,” said Marty Sabol, director of health services. “We’re growing in all three disciplines, but especially in behavioral health and dental care.”

He said the number of dental patients has nearly doubled over the past five years, from 917 in 2011 to 1,789 in 2016. Dental staff, including dentists and  hygienists, has increased from two to five.

As for behavioral health, the number of patients has increased 300 percent. In 2011, there were 174 behavioral health patients; in 2016 the number was 552. Staff has doubled to four, said Bohon.

Patients have access to medical, dental, and behavioral care at a single location. Providers work collaboratively, and patient records are centralized, so providers have access to all the information they need.

“When I meet with a patient,” said Marte McNally, Nasson’s director of behavioral health, in a prepared statement. “We may be talking about depression or some other behavioral issue, but there are probably other problems, like chronic medical conditions, that also need to be addressed. Our goal is to treat the whole person.”

Medical Director Sabol said Nasson Health Care’s growth in recent years can be attributed in part to its physical expansions, including to Maine Behavioral Health in Springvale, to Biddeford, and at the student health center at Noble High school in North Berwick. 

Bohon pointed out that Nasson Health care offers same day or next day appointments, and accepts most insurance, MaineCare, and offers sliding fee discounts to patients with financial need. Nasson accepts all patients regardless of ability to pay. The health center also expects to begin offering walk-in care.

“And although we’ve grown quite a lot,” said Sabol, “we’re still taking patients. We’re actively seeking new patients to bring us to capacity.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].​