Blue Hill Memorial Hospital (BHMH) and the Island Medical Center Board of Directors recently supported an initiative to coordinate discussions with community groups in Deer Isle-Stonington. The purpose of the sessions was to gather information from year-round residents about their perceptions of healthcare services on the Island.  In May, five focus groups were held representing Active Seniors, Young Families, Clergy, Business, and Fishermen’s Wives. In addition, a ‘town hall meeting’ was held in June with those senior citizens who attended the community lunch at the Stonington Community Center.  The core questions asked centered on perceptions of Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, its relationship to EMHS (Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems), and healthcare services that are working well and those services that are not working well.

BHMH invites members of the Deer Isle and Stonington communities to attend an informational meeting.  The meeting will be held at The Reach Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to share the results from the focus group work and communicate BHMH’s response to those findings.  The hospital looks forward to announcing the many plans for improved services at Island Family Medicine, and throughout our organization, for this community. For more information, please contact Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Community Relations at 374-3418.