Across Maine’s rural communities, access to specialty care can mean the difference between catching a serious heart or lung condition early or discovering it after the disease
has progressed. Thanks to a new rural healthcare grant, St. Joseph Healthcare is helping change that story.
Through the Rural Heart and Lung Tele-Care Collaborative (RHLT Consortium), St. Joe’s is partnering with Community Care Partnership of Maine (CCPM) and four rural health
centers to bring cardiology and pulmonology expertise directly to patients through virtual visits.
With just a click, a patient’s primary care provider can connect with a specialist in seconds. Over time, this model will grow even more sophisticated, using real-time data to
identify high-risk patients before health concerns escalate.
For people living in Washington, Hancock, Oxford and Penobscot Counties — regions where provider shortages are common, and people often must travel long distances to access care — this can mean earlier interventions, fewer hospitalizations and better quality of life.
This innovative work is rooted in St. Joe’s mission to care for the whole person, especially in communities where accessing care isn’t so easy. And with your support, these
telehealth breakthroughs can extend even further, helping more rural families receive the care they deserve, right where they live.