Thanks to a $1,100,000 gift from philanthropist Paul Coulombe, Lincoln County Healthcare has announced plans to develop a regional center for health and wellness on the St. Andrews campus.

Coulombe is a part-time Maine resident who is widely recognized for his significant support and investment in the economic and community health of the Boothbay region. His $1,100,000 million gift will be used, in part, to establish the Coulombe Center for Health Improvement.

The center will be housed in existing facilities and space at St. Andrews.

“This is a transformational gift that will improve the quality of life in our communities, and we are excited about all the possibilities,” remarked Lincoln County Healthcare President Jim Donovan. “Thanks to Mr. Coulombe’s tremendous support and shared vision, the center will expand successful efforts such as the Let’s Go! Program, which promotes healthy eating and physical activity, as well as new initiatives that focus on key populations and health concerns specific to the Boothbay region,” he said.

Classes and services of interest to local residents, such as smoking cessation, flu clinics, skin cancer screenings, Tai Chi and yoga, are examples of activities that are planned.

The Coulombe Center will place a special emphasis on the health and well-being of adolescents, young adults and elders. 

“We plan to engage teenagers and those who interact with them — parents, family members, health care providers, teachers and coaches — in a multi-year, community-wide effort to reduce the prevalence of high-risk behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts, and the circumstances that lead to them,” Donovan said.

Donovan also described a new initiative targeted to elders called the Boothbay Region WISE Program that will also be housed in the Center. WISE (Wellness Independence in a Supportive Environment) Centers are day support programs for adults 50 years and older with long-term mental health needs. WISE programs have been successfully established in several Maine communities but are currently unavailable in the Boothbay region. The Boothbay Region WISE program will fill a major gap created by a growing aging population, the rural location of the Boothbay peninsula, and the shortage of transportation and home care options.

“Activities that engage and connect people, young and old, are the foundation for a strong, healthy and vibrant community,” said Coulombe.  “I am honored to support a vision shared by Lincoln County Healthcare and MaineHealth … of helping to make this very special part of Maine one of the healthiest communities in America.”

Because the St. Andrews campus Urgent Care Center currently has several treatment bays that are only separated with privacy curtains, LincolnHealth officials also plan to redesign the area to accommodate private treatment rooms. The private rooms will help promote patient privacy, confidentiality, and better communication between providers and patients.

MaineHealth President and CEO Bill Caron commented, “Improving the health of a community requires close partnerships, a creative approach to change, and the willingness to make long-term investments.  Mr. Coulombe is not only clearly invested in his community, he is an agent for change.  We deeply appreciate his generosity, his insight, and his leadership in our efforts to enhance the health and well-being of the Boothbay Region.” Caron said.

A ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Coulombe Center for Health Improvement is planned for spring of 2015.