Year-round primary care services are now available in Northeast Harbor thanks to a renewed partnership between the town of Mount Desert’s Medical Center and Mount Desert Island Hospital. After some delays due to construction, the newly renovated center opened August 8. A ribbon-cutting celebration is set for Monday, August 29 to welcome the community to the newly renovated facility.
The hospital previously operated a seasonal Northeast Harbor Clinic through its partnership with the Mount Desert Medical Center. Now, after a two-year hiatus due the pandemic, and with a renewed long-term lease, the center and the hospital have resumed their partnership of more than 50 years to provide year-round primary care services at MDI Hospital’s Northeast Harbor Clinic on 9 Kimball Road.
“We’re so pleased to be reopening our Northeast Harbor Clinic to provide expanded year-round access to primary care to the Mount Desert Community,” said Chrissi Maguire, President/CEO of MDI Hospital. “This would not have been possible without the dedication of the Mount Desert Medical Center Board of Directors, local and seasonal residents and town leadership.”
Dr. John Urbanek will be practicing at the clinic for the months of August and September. Initially, the clinic will be open three half days per week: Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Outside of clinic hours, appointments will be available at MDI Hospital Health Centers in Southwest Harbor, Bar Harbor and Trenton.
Later this year, rotating specialty clinics are planned one to two days a month, featuring specialties such as general surgery, orthopedics, psychiatry, and cardiology. Open hours and specialty clinic availability are expected to increase based on demand.
“It’s been very exciting to see the renovations transform the center into a space that is light and bright and will again provide excellent healthcare to the residents of the Town of Mount Desert and outer islands,” said Judy Gilkes Benson, President, Mount Desert Medical Center Board of Directors. “We’re so grateful for Mount Desert Island Hospital’s commitment to our community.” Further renovations to the building are planned for the fall to update an additional office suite, said Benson.
Current directors also include Schofield Andrews III, Thomas Brown, Charles E. Bucklin, Katrina Carter, Marion Gogolak, Nancy K. Ho, Jane Joseph, Elaine Lincoln, Harry R. Madeira, Jr., Joelle Nolan, Mary Reath and Allyson Wallace. First established in 1967, the Mount Desert Medical Center was made possible by the commitment of year-round residents and the summer community who raised funds and established a non-profit board of directors to ensure that the Town of Mount Desert had access to medical services.
Many current board members are descendants of the center’s original members. The original working group included Drs. Ernest Coffin, G. Merril Haskell and Robert D. Wilson, the Chamber of Commerce, town officials and the support of the two local hospitals. The first board of directors included John S. Fernald, Jr, President; Dwight B. Carter, VP; Ruth Jordan, Secretary; Carlo Nifi, Treasurer; and Directors Woodbury A. Stanley; Frederick F. Brown; John E. Jordan, Jr; Horace E. Bucklin. Early board and committee members also included A. Cushman McGiffert, Mrs. Llewellyn Mitchell; Mrs. George Manchester; Donald Byrant; Mr. Burden; Mr. Cromwell; Mr. Thomas McCabe; Mr. Blum and Mrs. Vincent Astor.
If you would like to attend the community ribbon cutting celebration on Monday, August 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., please RSVP by phone at (207) 460-4405 or by email at events@mdihospital.org.
For more information about MDI Hospital’s Northeast Harbor Clinic or to make an appointment, please call (207) 801-5909.