Down East Community Hospital

06/08/2026

Part Time and Per Diem Security Officer Positions Available. Apply now at www.dech.org!

05/19/2026

There were so many great photos entered in this year's annual Hospital Week photo contest. We live in a beautiful county! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all who participated!

05/19/2026

Last week we celebrated National Hospital Week with games, prizes, snacks and ended the week with getting together for some photos on Friday for team spirit day. Our annual photo contest also happens during Hospital Week and the staff entered beautiful photos of Washington County which you will see very soon.

Congratulations to MMC for winning the raffle for the team spirit day photos. Enjoy your pizza! Thanks to all the departments who submitted a photo!

Thank you all for everything you do each day for your patients and the community!

05/08/2026

Full Time Surgical Services Environmental Technician Position Opportunity! Apply now at www.dech.org.

05/01/2026

Full Time Accounting Specialist Opportunity in Machias. Apply now at www.dech.org!

04/27/2026

When Giving Life Touches Home

You never really know how you’ll respond when life places you in a moment that calls for extraordinary compassion—like hearing a desperate plea from someone in need of a kidney to survive.

That moment came for Kandi Robertson of Harrington when she learned that her neighbor and family friend since high school, Jamie Denbow, was starting his search for a life saving kidney before he started dialysis. The news moved her deeply. Without hesitation, Kandi began the process to see if she could become a donor.

She knew the odds were uncertain. The testing process was long, and even if she proved to be a match, there was no guarantee she would ultimately be chosen. Still, she moved forward quietly, telling no one—not even Jamie—so as not to raise hopes prematurely.

Then, one extraordinary day, the call came: she had been chosen. She was a full match.

Kandi later described her joy as equal to some of the happiest moments of her life—her wedding day and the birth of her children. She was overwhelmed with emotion, knowing she had the chance to save a life.

She wanted to tell Jamie immediately but chose to wait until his doctors contacted him first.

Then the phone rang.

It was Jamie.

“So, I hear you have a kidney for me,” he said.

What followed was a moment neither of them will ever forget. They cried together—tears of relief, gratitude, and awe at what had just unfolded.

September 26, 2023 was donation day at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Today, both Kandi and Jamie are doing wonderfully. Their bond remains strong, and they celebrate each anniversary of the transplant together—a reminder of the day their lives became forever intertwined.

They now share their story not only to express their deep gratitude but also to inspire others. Their message is simple but profound: organ donation saves lives, and sometimes, the opportunity to give that gift is closer to home than you ever imagined.

You can learn more about organ and tissue donation through organdonor.gov, Donate Life America at donatelife.net, RegisterMe.org, and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). These sites provide information on registering, the donation process, and waiting list data, while local DMVs and state registries offer in-person registration.

04/20/2026

Small Labs. Big Impact. Every Patient, Every Time.

Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week | April 19-25, 2026

Each year, we proudly recognize Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, a national celebration honoring the skilled professionals who play a critical role in patient care—often behind the scenes.

At Calais Community Hospital and Down East Community Hospital, our laboratory teams are an essential part of the healthcare process. It is estimated that over 70% of medical decisions are influenced by laboratory test results, highlighting just how important their work truly is.

From early morning blood draws to complex diagnostic testing and rapid reporting of critical results, our laboratory staff—including medical laboratory scientists, technicians, and phlebotomists—are dedicated to accuracy, efficiency, and patient safety every single day.

In our rural hospital settings, our lab teams go above and beyond. Their versatility, teamwork, and close collaboration with providers and nurses help ensure that patients in our communities receive timely, high-quality, and personalized care close to home.

During Lab Week, we take this opportunity to recognize and thank our laboratory professionals at both facilities for their expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence. While much of their work happens behind the scenes, its impact is felt in every diagnosis, every treatment decision, and every patient outcome.

Thank you to our laboratory teams for all that you do—this week and every week!

If you see a member of our lab team this week, please join us in thanking them for the vital role they play in keeping our communities healthy.

04/13/2026

04/09/2026

Full Time Accounting Specialist Opportunity! Apply now at www.dech.org.

04/07/2026

Power and phones have be restored at our Reid Emery and Down East Health Center locations.