To the Editor:
An amazing thing happened in Damariscotta in early September. It was a first for our county, and, I believe was the first step toward making Lincoln County a distinguished center of higher education. Eight area students embarked on an educational program that will lead to an R.N. degree in nursing.
This development is exciting, and unique to our area in several ways. First, other than the University of Maine’s satellite campuses, it is the first program leading to a professional degree in this part of the state. Second, the program will lead toward relieving a chronic problem confronting hospitals here and all over the state – the shortage of nurses.
The new Lincoln County Healthcare (LCH) nursing education program is a bold step forward by our own hospitals, Miles and St. Andrews, together with Central Maine Community College, collaborating in a dynamic way to bring higher education to our region. The linkage of CMCC’s excellent nursing education program with two of Maine’s top rated rural hospitals provides the required academic structure to produce the professional RN degree.
I strongly believe in the benefits of education to a community, not only to the medical organizations and their patients that these students will serve, but to the entire community.
Lincoln County has just the right ingredients that can eventually bring distinction to our communities and residents in the form of higher education, and quality of patient care. Lincoln County Healthcare, blending the capabilities and resources of Miles and St. Andrews has the potential of becoming a prime source of well trained, critically needed health care professionals.
With the establishment of the RN training program in collaboration with CMCC, we will not only be able to provide well trained nurses to meet our needs, but will become a key provider of nurses for other hospitals in this part of Maine.
Once the Lincoln County-CMCC program has proved itself, I predict that we will become a source of trained healthcare specialists in other professions such as Medical Technology, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
Accomplishing this will require political will behind it. I have discussed this situation at length with David Trahan, now running for Maine State Senate. I admired David when he was in the House, and believe that his election to the Senate will provide Lincoln County with a strong, objective, sensible advocate for the expansion of higher education issues in our community.
David is thoughtful, incisive, and dedicated to the people of Senate District 20. His experience as a Representative for eight years, after which he was “term-limited” out, will bring a special kind of understanding and talent to the Maine Legislature. I will vote for him, I hope you will, too.
Alan C. Davis
Walpole
