Date: 03/23/2021

The Future of Healthcare

Northern Light Health announces the launch of two rural hospital modernization projects that will shape the future of healthcare in Hancock and Piscataquis Counties. The projects will replace century-old hospital buildings at Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital and Northern Light CA Dean Hospital (Greenville) with modern new facilities.

“Rural hospitals are closing at an accelerated rate across the country,” says Tim Dentry, president and CEO of Northern Light Health. “By thinking differently about how we deliver healthcare in rural Maine, we are building a patient-centered, sustainable model that will preserve access to care in these communities for generations to come.

The new facilities, which will be located on the existing hospital campuses, will include all private patient rooms, 24/7 full-service emergency departments, lab and imaging services, and more. A new FAA-approved helipad and ambulance garage and dormitory will be built at CA Dean Hospital. According to Dentry, the projects go beyond bricks and mortar.

“We have a unique opportunity to come together as a healthcare system to provide core services as close to home as possible and improve access to highly specialized care in innovative ways,” he says. “These future-focused projects will enhance telehealth, care coordination, and rapid medical transport to extend the services provided in our communities.”

The planning process for both projects is already underway, and construction will begin in the spring of 2022.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced that strong rural hospitals are vital to the communities they serve, and their importance has never been greater,” says Tim. “Our older facilities were not built for the way that healthcare is provided today, and they will not allow us to meet future standards of care. That’s why we believe now is the right time to move forward with plans to strengthen vital healthcare services in Hancock and Piscataquis Counties.”

Community support is expected to play a key role in funding the projects. Fundraising campaigns in Hancock and Piscataquis Counties will provide opportunities for individuals and businesses to partner with their local hospitals to make the projects a reality.