Our History

For more than two decades, beginning in 1921, the Red Cross served the Town's public health needs. Following WWII, the Red Cross moved to regional consolidation and a focus on disaster relief. The Town of Mount Desert considered the ramifications of losing its nursing service.

 

In a bold step, the leaders of that era concluded that such an important safety net could best be woven by local hands. The independent Mount Desert Public Health Service was formed under the chairmanship of Mr. Gordon Falt on September 1, 1949.

 

Demands on the nurses changed with the times. For many years, they provided the school with vaccinations, dental clinics, vision and hearing tests and regular instruction in hygiene and health. Then that role became a separate school-based service.

 

With time, revolutions in medicine and changes in insurance, Medicare and hospital policies impacted more people and our homecare mission became more demanding. Emerging societal patterns – widespread diabetes, heart disease and obesity – underscored the need for more outreach programs.

 

Valuing our founders' vision of a service available to all meant increased fundraising. We are the area's only private health organization which does not accept insurance. We receive no Federal or State funding.

 

The Mount Desert Nursing Association looks to the community for its financial and emotional support as well as its willing hands.