EASTPORT, Maine — Since artist Amy Ray returned to her beloved hometown of Eastport three years in the past, she and her husband, Mike Stewart, have gotten all the things they needed: a quaint coastal dwelling, two downtown shops and a vibrant scene inventive.
What Ray didn't get was a dentist, not less than not with out lots of bother.
Ray needed to go to the dentist at Eastport Well being Care, the place he receives major care, however was advised it could be an extended wait: not less than 4 years.
“It turned out he had a fairly dangerous abscess,” Ray mentioned. He was in a position to see a personal dentist “however solely as a result of I pulled some strings.”
Ray mentioned he doesn't blame the well being middle. Returning after a few years away, he sees how a lot Eastport has grown and understands the stress he places on medical suppliers.
In accordance with the latest census information, Washington County, like a lot of the state, noticed its inhabitants develop, including roughly 450 new residents over the previous 4 years. Three p.c of that improve occurred in Eastport, which now has 1,321 full-time residents, 133 greater than in 2020.
Whereas the quantity appears small, it doesn't inform the entire story in regards to the further pressures on Eastport's restricted assets, together with well being care.
The summer season months and the time main as much as the off-season see a rush of vacationers, vacationers and summer season residents, lots of whom want medical care. Though it’s a fashionable artist group, in keeping with census information, Eastport has a poverty price of about 15 p.c and a median family earnings of solely $51,669.
About 10 p.c of residents would not have medical health insurance and there usually are not sufficient well being care suppliers.
Eastport, like all communities within the county, is classed as a Well being Skilled Scarcity Space (HPSA), in keeping with the federal Well being Assets and Providers Administration, which implies a scarcity of major care, dental or well being care suppliers. psychological well being, or all the above.
Nicely conscious of the rising demand, Eastport Well being Care (EHC), which already serves roughly 5,400 sufferers, is quickly increasing its providers and presence in Downeast Maine. Final yr, the nonprofit constructed a 10,000-square-foot facility on Dublin Avenue in Machias to exchange an outdated, cramped constructing on Fremont Avenue that beforehand housed EHC providers.
Now, with an infusion of practically $6 million in state and federal grants, EHC is increasing once more. The federally supported group well being middle lately bought a 2.Eight-acre lot adjoining to the IGA retailer on Washington Avenue in Eastport, across the nook from its present places of work, and plans to construct a medical middle bigger than the one in Machias.
“We’re the oldest county within the oldest state within the nation and we’ve got unacceptable charges of continual sickness, suicide and habit,” mentioned EHC Government Director Ellen Krajewski. “All of this makes the work of group well being facilities and hospitals crucial.”
Krajewski, who moved to Eastport from Vermont in 2018 to tackle the CEO position, mentioned affected person load has grown 33 p.c over the previous 5 years.
Credit score: Courtesy picture.
Es. Susan Collins and Ellen Krajewski seen in January 2023.
He mentioned Eastport's growth will greater than double the dimensions of its present constructing, the Rowland B. French Medical Middle at 30 Boynton St., which was inbuilt 1978.
As soon as funding is accessible, Krajewski mentioned the design section will start. She anticipates the power will likely be two tales and be between 13,000 and 17,000 sq. ft. Bigger than the Machias centre, it ought to enable for a wider vary of providers.
All providers on the Boynton Avenue facility, together with dental, major care, behavioral well being and diabetes providers, will transfer to the brand new facility.
The added area will enable room for extra dental professionals and first care suppliers, and improved areas for behavioral well being providers, in addition to an expanded diabetes middle.
Krajewski mentioned the brand new constructing ought to present extra snug area for sufferers and suppliers, which he hopes will result in a better degree of care and entice new workers.
With 35 suppliers in Eastport and about one other 25 in Machias, Krawjeski mentioned EHC is optimistic about rising workers at each places, regardless of workers shortages within the area resulting from a restricted pool, retired professionals and difficulties attracting suppliers. to the distant rural group.
EHC is already having success with recruiting, bringing in some new suppliers at each places, together with a brand new medical director, Dr. Robert Phares. He was recruited to West Virginia to exchange Dr. Cynthia Sammis, who retired final yr.
Down East Neighborhood Hospital (DECH), which operates a hospital in Machias and a sister hospital in Calais, additionally gives major care at 5 places. In an announcement to The Maine Monitor, DECH CEO Steve Lail mentioned that regardless of generally competing with EHC for suppliers, sufferers and funding, he welcomes EHC's growth.
“We have now a very good working relationship with EHC they usually refer lots of their sufferers to DECH for specialty care, imaging, and so on.,” Lail mentioned. “Rising entry to… major care providers is sweet for your complete group.”
The EHC undertaking is funded by a mixture of grants. The biggest sum ($5,061,000) got here from the workplace of Senator Susan Collins.
“It’s vital that Mainers in all elements of the state have entry to the well being providers they want,” Collins mentioned in an announcement to The Maine Monitor. “This funding would assist the continued growth of Eastport Well being Care, serving to to extend and enhance the standard of a wide range of well being care providers provided to Eastport and surrounding rural communities.”
The invoice that included the grant was permitted by the Senate Appropriations Committee final July, however the appropriation awaits a ultimate funds from Congress, which is being negotiated, mentioned Phoebe Ferraiolo, Collins' deputy communications director.
One other $281,400 got here from a Rural Emergency Well being Care grant from the U.S. Division of Agriculture's rural improvement workplace in Maine. Rhiannon Hampson, state director of the division, mentioned the Eastport Neighborhood Well being Middle undertaking is greater than a one-time funding.
Credit score: Photograph by Alan Kryszak.
The nonprofit constructed a 10,000-square-foot facility in Machias to exchange an outdated, cramped constructing that beforehand housed EHC providers.
“This isn't lottery winners pondering, 'Oh, nicely, that group was out of luck as a result of they took benefit of that grant,'” Hampson mentioned. “It's really occurring all around the state. It's occurring all around the nation. “It’s a part of this complete motion to put money into rural well being care amenities.”
The undertaking additionally obtained state funding from the Maine Thrive Grant. The $500,000 forgivable mortgage financed the acquisition of the property and can assist with different undertaking prices.
Krawjewsi mentioned the group well being middle's mission is identical because it was within the 1970s, when Eastport leaders first envisioned a public well being mannequin: offering Washington County with behavioral, dental and first care providers. of top of the range, whatever the affected person's capacity to pay. .
As a federally certified group well being middle that receives federal funds to offset decrease earnings, EHC should value providers on a sliding scale, based mostly on household earnings. EHC is one in all six well being facilities serving Washington County: in Milbridge, Harrington, Lubec, Eastport, Calais, Princeton and the East Grand area bordering Aroostook County.
Clinics run by Indian Well being Providers additionally present major and different well being providers for members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Nice Level and Indian Township, the place group wants, starting from diabetes to substance use problems, are also rising.
“Even when each well being middle elevated entry to care two, three or 4 occasions, we nonetheless can't flip it round as a result of the scenario is de facto determined throughout the nation,” mentioned Jesse Bean, chief well being officer at Nice Level Well being. Middle.
In 2023, the county's group well being facilities obtained a complete of $6,236,471 in funding from the Well being Assets and Providers Administration. The company gives grants to rural well being facilities to assist meet the wants of typically impoverished communities.
Some group well being facilities, similar to EHC, have designated workers members who work with sufferers to deal with quite a lot of limitations folks face when attempting to entry well being care, together with meals insecurity, housing inequality, and lack dependable transportation.
Staff organize transportation to appointments, assist sufferers apply for MaineCare and low-income housing, and hyperlink sufferers to numerous group assets, similar to meals banks.
“We, as healthcare amenities, step as much as serve not solely our sufferers, but additionally the group to one of the best of our capacity,” Krajewski mentioned. “We’re the protection internet, together with our companion hospital.”
This story was initially revealed by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group. For normal Monitor protection, join a free Monitor e-newsletter. right here.
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