DECH Invests in State-of-the-Art Imaging with Revolution Ascend CT Scanner

Machias – Down East Community Hospital is happy to announce that we have installed a new GE state-of-the-art Revolution Ascend CT scanner.

This project started in December of 2024 by researching different brands of scanners that would best fit our Imaging Department’s needs, and which brand would provide the high quality of imaging we have grown to expect for our patients. Imaging fully researched different CT scanners  then visited a GE facility in Milwaukee in January to see what they had to offer.

We were looking for some key improvements to what we currently had in a scanner and ultimately GE won without question as they recently had some significant changes to their platform, image quality, decrease dose to the patient, size of the bore, and increase table length.

Some key features we would like to share:

  • We are the first in the State of Maine to implement the True Enhance DL software. This software is exciting for us as it provides improved visual contrast in all IV contrast administered studies, increasing clear visualization of contrast enhancement in vessels and masses without increasing the dose of IV contrast.
  • We went from a 70cm bore, to a 75cm bore, allowing for more room as patients go in and out of the scanner.
  • Our allowable table weight has increased from 350lbs- 680lbs. For us, the biggest reason we chose the bariatric table is to help assist optimal imaging for those patients who fell close to the 350-weight range. This increased weight limit should scan those patients with ease and with improved quality imaging.
  • We have increased the scannable range with our new scanner, allowing for ease of scanning Run off exams, and tall patients.
  • We have added a positioning camera which will auto prescribe the appropriate dose from the scout perfectly. This will help aid in overall decrease dose to the patient.
  • We have added MAR to this scanner which stands for Metal Artifact Reduction. If a patient has a metal implant, we apply this software to the image and it reduces the scatter typically created, allowing the Radiologist to visualize around the surgical site.

Our staff from several departments worked hard to make some necessary changes to the CT suite by expanding it to allow for a longer table, additional room to bring a stretcher in with ease, increased room for the technologists to work, and a bigger control room allowing for an improved workflow. We were able to expand the overall room by moving our Ultrasound Room to what used to be the Quiet Room, making a great space for our Ultrasound patients as well.

New Board Member and Corporator Approved at Hospital Annual Meeting

Machias and Calais – Down East Community Hospital and Calais Community Hospital held its annual meeting of the Corporators on Wednesday, June 11.  CEO, Steve Lail, reported the financial health of both hospitals as well as accomplishments, recruitment, and community outreach.  Mr. Lail reported that Calais Community Hospital ended the year with a gain of $733,011 and that Down East Community Hospital ended with a gain of $4,277,557.  You can find more detailed information in the 2024 Annual Report which is available on the DECH and CCH websites.

Board Chair, Jacqueline O’Clair, provided a message from the board and thanked the Administration, staff, and Trustees for their hard work.  She welcomed new Board Member Megan Walsh, and new Corporator, Sharon Hext.  She also paid tribute to Mike Hennessey and Corey Schwinn who termed off the Board this year.

New Board Member, Megan Walsh, Ph.D., is the Dean and Campus Director of the University of Maine at Machias.  She holds a Ph.D. in English from Temple University and a B.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Her published research has been supported by: The McNeil Center of Early American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, The Mary and David Harrison Institute for American History, Literature, and Culture at the University Virginia, and the Harry Ransom Center at University of Texas at Austin.

New Corporator, Sharon Hext, worked for Down East Community Hospital as the Volunteer Coordinator for many years and currently serves as a volunteer at DECH.  She has served as a volunteer for other organizations as well such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Rapid Response, Hospice, Make-A-Wish, and Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church.

Mike Hennessey and Corey Schwinn have completed their terms on the Board, and we are grateful for the many years they dedicated to the Board and our organization.  Mike has served on the Board of Trustees for thirteen years.  He has held positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair, Finance Committee Chair and served on the Compliance, Governance, and Executive Committees.  Mike, who resides with his family in Northfield, is a partner/producer at Varney Agency in Machias.  Corey Schwinn has served on the Board for nine years.  He has served on the Governance Committee and was Compliance Chair for many of those years.  He currently works as the Clinical Director for Sunrise Opportunities and resides in Marshfield with his family.

This year we had two physicians, who played important roles in the community, pass away.  CEO, Steve Lail, on the passing of Dr. Rathod and Dr. Gaddis, “Dr. Rathod was a urologist at DECH for twelve plus years. He was such a warm and nice man who always had interesting stories to tell.  We missed him when he retired and were saddened to hear of his passing. We also lost Dr. John Gaddis.  Dr. Gaddis had served several roles inside and outside of the hospital over his long career of practicing in Washington County. He always attended the annual meeting every year and I enjoyed catching up with him and remember several stories he told me about being in the Merchant Marines during the Vietnam War. He was remembered during our Light a Life celebration in December and several staff related stories about him over the years. He was definitely a local institution and will be missed.”

Current members of the board are Jackie O’Clair, Chair, Judd Bragg, PharmD, Vice Chair, Nate Martell, Secretary, Ian Pratt, Treasurer, John Corrigan, Betty Marshall, Julie Jordan, Jody Dennison, Rita Ten, MD, Raymond Howard, MD, Megan Walsh, Dwight Perkins, and Steve Lail.