The Charles A Dean Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home is experiencing the pressures and opportunities of a growing community. As the Greenville area becomes increasingly more populated with both summer visitors and year around residents, C.A. Dean is facing the challenge of meeting the growing need for community healthcare services with new medical systems and the expansion of existing facilities.  As Geno Murray, President  and CEO of C.A. Dean points out, the next closest hospital is 35 miles from Greenville, so it is imperative that C.A. Dean adapt to what the community needs as the hospital continues to become a first-rate Critical Access Hospital. “Residents of this community need to know that they can be treated here at C.A. Dean with the highest quality care available.”

As a member of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, C.A. Dean is able to offer state-of-the-art technology, such as the new regional Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS). PACS was recently purchased with a rural grant received through a partnership with Eastern Maine Medical Center, The Aroostook Medical Center, Sebasticook Valley Hospital and C.A. Dean. Murray has high hopes for this new technology, “It gives us the ability to send digital images to radiology specialists at EMMC. Specialists in Bangor, viewing these images, consult with our local physicians to assure the quickest, best diagnosis and prescribed treatments.   It also allows Bangor doctors to access the condition of patients being transferred to EMMC before they arrive, giving them time to prepare. This new system provides patients in the Greenville area the opportunity to receive care they couldn’t normally receive at a hospital of this size and scope.” Murray says technology like PACS is just one advantage of belonging to a large healthcare system.

C.A. Dean is also proposing two main additions to the hospital through money raised from their $2 million capital campaign. Addressing the need for critical care access, the expansion includes an important addition to the main building for better Emergency Department facilities, including exam rooms, and surgical and trauma areas.   Northwoods Healthcare will move out of its cramped quarters and into a proposed new medical office building adjacent to C.A. Dean. This new building will offer new and additional exam rooms; a business and reception area, offices, and a new two-room waiting area. Murray is very excited about this new addition, “It will provide not only increased patient privacy but also better access to physician healthcare for our patients.

Murray says the hospital upgrades and expansion are necessary steps, “C.A. Dean is one of the main centers for economic development in Greenville— It is the pulse of this community. Without this facility, residents lose easy access to essential healthcare, and the town loses economic stability.” As healthcare changes, we welcome the opportunity to change and grow to meet the needs of the people in this growing community, added Murray.

Local support for the upgrade of emergency room facilities and development of a new medical office building for outpatient physician services has recently received welcomed endorsements from Greenville Town Manager, John Simko, the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Directors of the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce.   “Community commitment to this project continues to grow,” reports Murray.  “We are gratified by the support we are receiving from individuals, organizations and businesses from throughout our hospital service area.”   It proves C.A. Dean is moving in the right direction as it establishes itself as a critical care access hospital for the people of this area of Maine, ” says Joe DiAngelo, Century 21 Muzzy Real Estate and former C.A. Dean board member.