Category: News & Events

Calais and Machias Maine – This October, Down East Community Hospital (DECH) and Calais Community Hospital (CCH) will welcome motivational youth speaker Jesse LeBeau to Washington County. Jesse will deliver six presentations to more than 1,200 high school students in grades 9 through 12 throughout the county.

This marks the fifth year the local hospitals have brought an inspirational speaker to area students as part of their commitment to supporting youth health and wellness.

Planning for the DECH/CCH Youth Speaker Series began in 2022 during the development of the hospitals’ 2023-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Through that process, hospital leaders identified a need to engage young people in conversations about challenges affecting many communities, including mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, and resilience.

While we wish our young people did not have to face these issues, we know they see them, experience them, and, in some cases, live with them every day.

The Youth Speaker Series was created to provide students with a message of hope, encourage honest conversations about difficult topics, and equip teens with practical tools to navigate life’s challenges. In addition to supporting organizations already working with youth, the hospitals continue to explore new ways to reach and support the youngest members of our communities.  The hospitals plan to continue the Youth Speaker Series during future school years as part of their ongoing commitment to youth well-being.

Our 2026 speaker, Jesse LeBeau, helps students develop a strong mindset and build the support systems they need to succeed in life.  His message centers on a simple but powerful truth – students cannot always control what happens to them, but they can always control how they respond.

Through his presentation, Jesse encourages students to:

• Choose thoughtful responses instead of reactive ones.
• Build resilience and develop a growth mindset.
• Recognize the people and influences that positively impact their lives.
• Surround themselves with supportive individuals who encourage their success.
• TEAM UP with people who help them grow and overcome challenges.

Jesse’s story began on a small, rugged island in Alaska, where he was often told he was too small, not talented enough, and should pursue something more realistic than his dream of playing basketball.  He faced a choice: become bitter or become better.

Jesse chose to get better. Along the way, he learned that success is rarely achieved alone. He credits much of his journey to teaming up with the right people: the people who believed in him, challenged him, and refused to let him give up when things became difficult.  That decision changed the course of his life.

What started as a dream led to opportunities to work with NBA legends, appear in major films and commercials, and build a platform that now reaches more than one million students worldwide.

Machias and Calais – Down East Community Hospital and Calais Community Hospital are excited to announce that we have received confirmation that requests we submitted last year for CDS funds were approved and are included in the Congressionally Directed Spending for FY2026.  This means we will be receiving $4.99 million to renovate and expand the RHC at CCH and $2.2 million towards the construction of six modular town houses near DECH.  We can expect to receive the funds by Fall 2026.

The RHC

Expanding our RHC is crucial for meeting the healthcare needs of eastern Washington County. With limited access to medical care, increasing the number of physicians and nurse practitioners is essential. The current size constraints of the clinic hinder our ability to grow and serve more patients effectively. By expanding our facility, we can enhance our services and provide better healthcare options for the community members in need.

We will renovate and increase the size of the RHC by 4,500 sq ft, which will allow for space for 3 additional providers.  The expansion will improve ADA accommodations for patients and will provide better patient flows.

We are hoping to break ground with the expansion and begin the renovation process in the Spring of 2027 and have it completed by Spring 2028 or earlier.

The Town Houses

The addition of six modular town houses will provide the access to housing we need to enable us to continue to recruit necessary medical professionals to our service area.  The town houses will be used as short-term housing for medical professionals who want to come to the area and work at Down East Community Hospital.

Housing impediments to recruitment will be tempered, and the hospital will be able to alleviate holes in coverage and improve access for urgent/emergent care, and we will be able to greatly reduce the cost on rentals and traveling staff.  This also means we will have more funds to invest back into the hospital.

The town houses will be located on hospital owned property; the exact location is to be determined.  We plan to start that project in the Spring of 2027 and have it completed sometime in late 2027.

Both projects will improve our ability to recruit and retain medical professionals.  The RHC project will also greatly improve access to care for the community and greatly improve the working environment for our staff.

These are exciting times and we are profoundly grateful to Senator Collins for her strong support of both projects and for Senator King who also supported the RHC project.

Paul Canny, RN, and Brandis Townsend were chosen as Down East Community Hospital’s 2025 Employees of the Year! Brandis is our non-clinical Employee of the Year and Paul is our clinical Employee of the Year.  Paul works in our Lifespan Department on Med/Surg and OB5 and Brandis works in Patient Financial Services.

DECH staff nominated their peers for these awards by completing a form and providing information and specific details on why they should be employee of the year. Factors considered are dependability, initiative, attitude, and teamwork. Here are excerpts from Brandis and Paul’s nomination forms:

“Paul Canny, RN consistently provides excellent care to his patients. The time he devotes to them and his attention to their needs are truly admirable. He shows a strong eagerness to learn and has become one of our most skilled OB-trained nurses. Paul has supported his coworkers countless times, willingly comes in for any shift—day or night—often with little notice. We could not ask for more in a colleague.

Over a year ago, my mother was hospitalized, and Paul was absolutely wonderful. He was caring, compassionate, and incredibly kind to her.

He also looked after my father, who stayed at her bedside, making sure he was doing okay as well. I was so impressed and grateful that he was caring for my parents. He exemplifies everything a great nurse should be—fully dedicated to patient care.”

“Brandis Townsend is an exceptional employee whose dedication, professionalism, and proactive approach make a profound impact on her department and the hospital as a whole. She continuously looks for ways to improve workflows. Her ability to recognize opportunities for improvement—and quickly develop practical solutions—has saved time, reduced errors, and strengthened our processes.  Her reliability is unmatched.

Brandis is also the first to offer help when other departments are short-staffed. She willingly takes on additional responsibilities in Registration, the Café, and Patient Access without complaint, treating the organization as one cohesive team. She supports coworkers with kindness and fairness, holding people accountable while creating an environment where mistakes become opportunities for growth.

Brandis is a hardworking team player, a proactive problem-solver, and a compassionate supervisor. She has also organized many community benefit events such as donations for the giving tree, school supplies drive and the campus clean up.

The full list of nominees included Paige Preston, Chelsea Stanley, Bonnie Pineo, Crystal Richard, Monique Prescott, Robin Mollica, Susan Tinker, Sherry Murphy, Donna Barrett, Alissa Abner, Ashley Marzoll, Jody Cline, Gwenith Hatt, Dawn Woodward, Shelly Roberts, and Ber Terry.

Congratulations to both of our winners and all our nominees. Thank you for the great jobs you do every day and the special way you care for our patients and your co-workers!

Machias and Calais – Down East and Calais Community Hospital CEO, Steve Lail, presents Machias Area Food Pantry volunteers Nancy Lewis and Ken Warner with a check for $5,000.00 for the pantry, DECH’s most recent gift this year to this very worthy cause.  Steve also presented a check for $5,000 to the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry in Calais.  On hand to accept the donation were volunteers (l to r) Sharon Waycott, Vicki McVicar and Phil McVicar along with Pantry President Dawn Noonan and CEO Steve Lail.

CEO, Steve Lail, “We have given to the Machias Area Food Pantry, Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry, and others in the past because these pantries provide an invaluable service to the community.  The need is always there, and DECH/CCH will continue to do what we can to help those who are food insecure.”

Machias – At Down East Community Hospital in Machias, staff and patients alike are thankful for the new blanket warmer that was purchased with funds donated by the DECH Auxiliary.

The DECH Auxiliary donated over $7,000 to purchase a 2-tier blanket warmer for the Emergency Department.  The Auxiliary chose the Emergency Department for their quarterly department donation of $1,000 but when they found out the ED needed a blanket warmer an Auxilian, who wishes to remain anonymous, stepped in and donated the additional funds needed for the purchase.  ED Manager, Tiffany Snider, “I was stunned at the generosity and am so very happy the ED now has a new blanket warmer that will help fulfill the comfort and therapeutic needs of our patients.”

CEO Steve Lail, “The Auxiliary has done so much for the hospital for so many years, and this is another fine example of their heart felt dedication and generosity. We are forever thankful for all they do.”

Be sure not to miss the Auxiliary’s 51st Holiday Craft Fair at the Rose M. Gaffney gymnasium on December 6 from 9am to 2pm. There will be over 50 craft vendors, door prizes, raffles, Christmas music, and great snacks and lunches to purchase.  Santa and Mrs. Clause will make a visit again this year too!   Not only will you find great gifts for Christmas, but you will also have the chance to say hello to some of the Auxilians and thank them for all the wonderful things they do for the community.

Machias and Calais – When Down East Community Hospital and Calais Community Hospital’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant In-Training (CCMAIT) program launched earlier this year, five individuals stepped forward with different backgrounds, experiences, and dreams. Nine weeks later, they walked out not just with new skills, but with a new future in healthcare.  We are thrilled to celebrate their achievement and excited to announce that all five graduates are now working as Certified Medical Assistants across our community.

We are proud to share the success of the very first CCMAIT Program at Down East Community Hospital.  After months of dedicated work, all five students successfully completed the program. The students progressed at their own pace, testing for certification anywhere between week 7 and week 9. Each left with a nationally recognized certification from the National Health Career Association.

Program Highlights

On the first day of training, the students become employees of DECH/CCH which means they are paid an hourly rate and are eligible for full health, dental, and vision benefits.  They also begin accruing time off.  Each student signs an agreement to be employed by us for at least 2 years which is crucial to the program’s success.  Everyone is fully employed for the duration of the program and, upon successful completion of the program, are placed in one of our practices.

The CCMAIT curriculum was demanding: nine to twelve weeks of classroom learning and clinical practice covering medical ethics, administrative functions, communication skills, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and hands-on clinical training.

Over the course of the program are classroom lectures, combined with online learning and hands-on clinical practice, the students gained strong foundations in:

• Medical Ethics and Legal Fundamentals
• Administrative Functions
• Professionalism and Communication Skills
• Clinical Skills
• Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology

The 5 graduates came from across the county and from many different backgrounds; one was a former CNA, one a pharmacy technician, a veterinary technician, a seafood worker, and a food services worker.  Now, all are CCMAs and are working at Baileyville Medical Center, Down East Health Center and Arnold Memorial Medical Center.

 From seasoned professionals building on their foundation, to brand-new learners proving what’s possible, this first CCMAIT cohort shows what happens when opportunity meets commitment. The success of this first cohort demonstrates the power of education, mentorship, and opportunity. We are proud of these graduates and look forward to seeing their continued impact on the patients and communities we serve.

This is not just the story of five students — it’s the story of what’s possible for our workforce and our patients when we invest in education and growth.  We have already started taking applications for our next class which will begin on November 3.