Author: dech_admin

December 2019 Machias – Down East Community Hospital has earned national recognition for its efforts to engage hospitals in increasing organ, eye, and tissue donor registrations across the state, through the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. The WPFL is a national initiative that unites the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the organ donation community with workplaces across the nation in spreading the word about the importance of donation.

The program challenges hospitals and healthcare organizations to “let life bloom” by educating their staff, patients, visitors, and communities about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation and offering them opportunities to register. Down East Community Hospital conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors and, by doing so, increased the number of potential donors on the state’s donor registry. The hospital earned points for each activity and was awarded platinum recognition through the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign.

Down East Community Hospital, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, and Maine Medical Center were the only Maine hospitals to receive the platinum award. CEO, Steve Lail on the award, “As I stated last year, platinum is not often awarded to small rural hospitals.  Part of why that may be true is small rural hospitals don’t have the same resources as larger hospitals.  I do know that if we didn’t have a dedicated champion like Donna Renshaw, we would not have been as successful as we have been in promoting awareness.  Donna Renshaw, RN, BSN, CNOR has worked passionately on this initiative for years and reaches her goals with the help of co-workers who assist her with this initiative.  We are very proud of Donna and the others for what they have done to promote the gift of life.”

If you would like to learn more about giving the gift of life, go to https://neds.org or if you would like to register to become a donor please register at https://registerme.org.

September 2019 Machias – To launch breast cancer awareness month and to promote the importance of early detection, Down East Community Hospital will hold its second annual “Get Your Pink On” march down Main Street in Machias.  The march will be held on Saturday, October 5 and begins at 9am rain or shine.

There will be plenty of pink pirate hats for everyone and pirate skirts, tutus, fedoras, and pink fairy wings available first come first serve!  We also have a limited amount of “Real Men Wear Pink” ball caps.  You are welcome to wear your own costume or just come as you are.

Meet us at the Colonial Parking Lot in Machias to get your pink on before we set out for the dyke!

September 2019 Machias – This year, for Down East Community Hospital’s annual staff development event, the Staff Development Team prepared a team building exercise that included food!  That food, upon the conclusion of the program, were donated to food banks in Machias and Cherryfield.

In all 5 sessions held at the Lee Pellon Center this past week, teams comprised of staff from DECH were tasked with purchasing (with allotted play money) food items from a make shift store that they would then use to construct a creative, workable Putt-Putt golf hole.  The staff was very creative and enjoyed the team building project – partly because it was fun and partly because they would get to donate to a good cause.

“As was recognized in the Community Health Needs Assessment for Washington County, food insecurity is something that many of our friends and neighbors deal with on a regular basis. When our Staff Development Team brought forward the idea of taking the funds for the annual staff development event and purchasing food items that could be used for a team building exercise so we could donate those items to local food pantries, we were all on board because it just made sense.” Steve Lail, President & CEO.

October 2019 Machias – Earlier this month family members of Jeanette J. Stuart and DECH Auxiliary members attended a bench dedication in memory of Jeanette.  The bench was purchased with monies donated to the auxiliary in her name.  The DECH Auxiliary certainly benefitted from Jeanette’s generosity of time and ideas.  A founding member of the Auxiliary, she served in many capacities throughout the years.  Since Jeanette loved flowers and gardens, they felt it appropriate that the bench be placed in the inner courtyard of the hospital knowing that many will spend a few quiet moments sitting on the bench, to rest, reflect, pray, or just to take in some fresh air.  “Many will be thinking of loved ones, as we will think of Jeanette, when we enjoy the garden and the bench dedicated in her name” DECH Auxiliary.

Plaque reads – In memory of Jeanette J. Stuart Longtime dedicated Auxiliary member – 2019

 

April 2019 Machias – Down East Community Hospital is pleased to announce that our family is growing by leaps and bounds!  That is right, we captured a photo of 10 beautiful ladies who are expecting (or in a couple cases already delivered).  As any expecting family, we are happy for the moms and can’t wait until the babies arrive.  It is great to see young families work and grow in Washington County!

Since this picture was taken, Brandee Hall has given birth to her daughter, Indie Hall.  Congratulations to Brandee and her home family!

DECH welcomes its first baby of 2022!

Kristi Doten and Dan Jones’ daughter, Indira, was born at Down East Community Hospital on January 5 at 8:48am.  Indira weighed in at 5 pounds and 6 ounces and was 19 ½” long.  DECH presented the family with a gift basket full of items for Indira.  The basket also contained several gift certificates for her parents.

Congratulations from the OB staff and everyone at DECH on the birth of your beautiful daughter!

We are happy to announce that Dr. Adam Simmons, DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) will be practicing at our Orthopedics practice at Down East Community Hospital beginning the week of March 21, 2022.  Dr. Simmons is an established area provider and a skilled healthcare services professional.

Dr. Simmons has a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree and is licensed by the state. He diagnoses and treats foot diseases and deformities. He performs medical, surgical, and other operative procedures, prescribes corrective devices and physical therapy, and prescribes and administers drugs.

Services and procedures include:

• At Risk foot care; neuropathic, diabetic, and other at-risk foot evaluations /managements
• Clinical / surgical lower extremity wound care management
• Clinical / surgical foot evaluations – generalized foot pain, Ingrown toenail removal, wart removal, skin lesion biopsy/ removal, arthritis, foot fractures, bunions, hammer toes, flat foot, and other foot deformities

Dr. Simmons received a B.A. in Biology from Utah Valley University and a DPM degree from Barry University in Florida. He went on to complete his FF/RRA Surgical Residency program, specializing in wound care and foot and ankle surgery.
A podiatrist is a person qualified by a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree. Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot diseases and deformities. They perform medical, surgical, and other operative procedures, prescribe corrective devices, and prescribe and administer drugs and physical therapy. Podiatrists are also referred as foot doctors and/or chiropodist.  Podiatrists can be the first to identify systemic diseases in patients, such as diabetes and vascular disease.

To make an appointment with Dr. Simmons, call 255-0404.

Visitation Restrictions Enacted to Protect Patient’s Safety

Machias – Due to the high numbers of respiratory illness and the recent news that Maine has experienced its first confirmed case of COVID-19, Down East Community Hospital and all its provider practices in Machias, Jonesport, and Milbridge have implemented visitor restrictions.  Those restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.
 
In an effort to protect our patients and the surrounding community, the following restrictions are in force.  Visitors who are ill with flu or cold symptoms, fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, vomiting and/or diarrhea will not be permitted.  There will only be one visitor allowed per patient in all areas. Members of the public coming to the hospital can be expected to be screened and asked to clean their hands.  No visitors will be allowed for patients who have a pending or positive COVID-19 test.  Lastly, all visitors must be 16 years or older.  Special exceptions may be made to the visiting restrictions for OB patients and patients at end of life or in hospice care and those exceptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a nursing manager.
 
President and CEO, Steve Lail,  “This was a difficult decision to make, but we must put the safety of our patients first.  We also need to protect our staff and the community.  We may find later that safety warrants an increase to the restrictions and we will absolutely do that if the need arises.  You can be assured that we are continually updated by the Maine CDC and have all infection prevention and emergency preparedness protocols in place.” 
 
If you have recently traveled to areas affected by COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has, or are showing signs of illness, please refrain from visiting family or friends in the hospital.  If you are exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory infection, and must be at the hospital, please wear a mask.  If you are exhibiting symptoms and need to come to the Emergency Department or visit your provider, call ahead so the caregivers can make the necessary preparations for your arrival.
 
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.
·         Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
·         Stay at home when you are sick.
·         Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue into the trash.
 
For up to date information go to Maine CDC’s COVID-19 website at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or by calling Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821.

Lien Crocker and CEO Steve Lail have some fun during the presentation of Lein’s 40-year pin.

Annually, DECH celebrates the years of service for those employees who, during the year, reached their 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40^th year of service. Lien Crocker, received her 40-year pin for reaching that landmark in 2018! If you have ever visited or been a patient at DECH, you have probably met Lien.  Lien works in Environmental Services and will be the first to tell you she loves her job, cares for her co-workers and appreciates how everyone is always so good to her.  If you had the chance to encounter Lien while she was at work, she would have met you with a smile, a warm greeting and maybe even a hug if she knows you. Thank you, Lien, for being a member of the DECH family!

Other employment milestones reached during 2018:
35 Years: Elizabeth Faraci
25 Years: Nicholas Cianciola
20 Years: Dee Kelley, Lynnette Parr, Ernie Reisman
15 Years: Anna Baskerville, Patricia Bridges, Elaine Johnson, Gail Roberts, Heidi Schwinn, Jennifer Strout
10 Years: Ann Alley, Kim Dube, Aaron Fogg, William Howard, Monique Mills, Nicole Riddell, Sarah Trynor, Alf Wakeman
5 years: Kim Alley, Tonja Alley, Steen Belanger, Jennifer Brodie, Nancy Fitzgerald, Penny Guerra, Joelle Jackson, Karen Joeckel, Dana Lang, Darci Libby, Jessica Murry, Heather Wright