Hospital birthing center planned
Construction is planned for summer of 2022. The cost of the new birthing center is $5 million to $6 million, Ronan said. About 250 babies are delivered at Maine Coast Hospital each year.
Health
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Hospital’s spring appeal focuses on workforce training initiative
ELLSWORTH — Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital seeks support to strengthen the health-care team of tomorrow with the launch of its Spring Community Appeal. With a focus on workforce development to ensure quality care for area residents well into the future, the community is invited to help invest in the effort. “Maine Coast Hospital has …
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Federal appeals court upholds labor board decision on fired hospital employee
The United States First Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a decision by the National Labor Relations Board finding that Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, now Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, violated federal labor laws by firing a nurse who wrote a letter to the editor criticizing the hospital administration amid a merger with Eastern Maine Health Care Systems (EMHS) in 2017.
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Bumper tick season arrives
The combination of a mild winter and early spring have created a robust tick season, according to Griffin Dill, tick lab coordinator at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
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Dermatology practice closing
ELLSWORTH — Northern Light Dermatology is closing its practice on June 24. Dr. Norman Sykes will be available to current patients for urgent dermatology care until June 24. All patients will be notified by mail. Patients are urged to continue with appropriate medical care and advised to establish contact with another dermatology provider as soon …
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Student vaccine clinic scheduled
The clinic will take place at the Sumner Memorial High School gymnasium from 1 to 5 p.m. The first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered on May 21 and the second on June 11.
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Hospitals resume visitation hours
“Because of the downward trend of our community positivity rate as well as our desire to meet the needs of our community and patients, visitation will be allowed starting May 19.”
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Hope Day shines a light on mental illness
“I truly feel the stigma of talking about mental illness was part of the reason it went to the point of suicide,” Julie Vittum said of a past boyfriend.
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Vaccine euphoria and vaccine reluctance: Who’s getting the shot?
“I am 71 years old, and I want to live a long, full life,” Johannson said. And despite a strong reaction to her second Moderna shot, once she recovered, “there was just a new sense of freedom,” she said. “I could go places. And [I felt] a certain satisfaction that I’d done the right thing for myself and the people around me.”
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Ambulance contract has city “over a barrel”
The agreement would start on July 1, 2021, and run through June 30, 2024, and cost the city about $56,000 the first year. That $7 per capita rate, based on 2010 census numbers, will rise to $9.54 per capita the second year and, for the third year, an additional 3 percent. For the second and third year, the 2020 census numbers will likely be used, for a third-year cost in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, Moshier said.
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High Street community vaccination clinic remains open, walk-ins accepted
“We are not closing the community vaccination clinic on High Street at this time,” Columber said. “However, we are looking to expand vaccination opportunities in our practices located throughout Hancock County.”
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City ambulance service discussed
Council Chairman Dale Hamilton suggested a future discussion on using the $400,000 the city will receive this year from the American Rescue Plan Act to purchase and outfit an ambulance for a city-owned EMS unit. Hamilton pointed to rising costs from the service agreement with Northern Light, which will charge the city $56,000 for the first year based on $7 per capita, and the additional personnel needed as incentive to explore a city-run service.
