A crowd of about 100 island residents and summer visitors attended the Open House at Swan’s Island’s new health care facility on July 9. The Mill Pond Health Center, which opened its doors to patients last November, is off to a good start, providing a variety of health and wellness services to island residents and visitors. Those attending the open house received a tour of the building, learned about the available services, and were treated to a state-of-the-art telemedicine technology demonstration.
With help from the Maine Sea Coast Mission, a land-based telemedicine unit was recently installed at the health center. The unit will be used to facilitate patient visits with mainland based healthcare providers. Sharon Daley, nurse aboard the Maine Sea Coast Mission’s vessel Sunbeam, conducted a demonstration of the new equipment. Using the telemedicine unit, Ms. Daley connected to Family Health Center, one of Mount Desert Island Hospital’s primary care practices, demonstrating how a visit takes place between a patient on the island and a doctor on the mainland. Daley will be instrumental in overseeing and coordinating telemedicine services on Swan’s Island.
Joining interested island and summer residents at the open house was state Rep. Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven), who serves Swan’s Island. Pingree said she was impressed with the facility and with all that Swan’s Islanders have been able to achieve at the health center. Gov. John Baldacci was represented by way of a proclamation proclaiming July 9, 2008 as Mill Pond Health Center Day.
Health care access for the 350 year-round residents and additional summer residents and visitors had been limited to a once-a-month visit by a doctor, and twice monthly scheduled visits by the Sunbeam, which delivered the services of Daley and also physician visits via telemedicine technology available aboard the boat.
A position for a part-time paid coordinator was approved at the annual town meeting in March of this year. Island resident Donna Wiegle, who holds a degree in Medical Technology, was hired for the position, which includes scheduling of all activities and services being offered at the health center, as well as overseeing maintenance of the facility.
Health care services available on-island have increased dramatically since the opening of the new health center. The facility is currently being used about 18 to 20 days a month, with services including primary care, podiatry, weekly blood draws, educational and preventive care programming, AA and Al-Anon meetings, and more. With rising ferry and fuel costs, the ability to obtain medical care and other health-related services on the island is a boon to the island community. Each visit to the island health center saves a patient the $25 ferry fee, plus fuel, and at least a half a day’s time spent going to the mainland and back. Sixty to 75 patients a month are currently receiving medical care at the health center, and more are attending the special meetings and programs being offered.
The idea for the health center was approved at the Swan’s Island annual town meeting in March 2005, and has taken nearly three years to complete. Residents approved spending $230,000 for the project, as well as funding for ongoing annual expenses. The Maine Sea Coast Mission helped out with furnishings and facilitiers as part of its vision for improved access to health care on the outer islands.
Representatives from both the Maine Sea Coast Mission and Mount Desert Island Hospital were invited to attend the open house as a way of thanking them for all of their support. Through partnerships with both organizations, Swan’s Island has been able to achieve its goal of providing better access to quality health care on the island.
– Donna Wiegle