James Thompson Named MDI Hospital’s Employee of the Year

MDI Hospital held their annual meeting on Monday, August 6th, at the Bar Harbor Club, and at that time they announced that James Thompson was selected as MDI Hospital's Employee of the Year.

Thompson is a Nutrition Services Aide III and has been working at MDI Hospital for 3 year. The things that he enjoys most about working at the Hospital are the people, and the opportunity to help and give back to the community. In the nomination bio, Thompson was described as being full of energy and enjoying his work. His contagious smile reflects his sweet personality.

James is extremely grateful to his coworkers for nominating him. Outside of work, Thompson enjoys playing music, watching and playing soccer and spending time with his friends, kids and dogs. His favorite song is Bob Marley's "One Love".

During the meeting, MDI Hospital President/CEO Arthur J. Blank addressed the growing opioid crisis and the organization’s partnership with Healthy Acadia and the Downeast Substance Treatment Network. “MDI Hospital is proud to be a founding member of the Downeast Substance Treatment Network, a collective of community partners, working to expand patient-centered addiction care and support successful long-term recovery,” he said. In April, the Network partnering with Aroostook Mental Health Center, opened the Downeast Treatment Center in Ellsworth, with the goal of providing high-quality medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders. During his opening remarks, Blank congratulated the Executive Director of Healthy Acadia and MDI Hospital Board Member Elsie Flemings for her leadership of the project.

Blank also spoke about the organization’s new Palliative Care Program—designed to improve quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families by integrating the physical, social and spiritual elements of care—and credited the hospital organization’s 500 plus employees with the success of the organization’s integrated care philosophy. “We are so very grateful to the employees of MDI Hospital for advancing the delivery of healthcare by making integrated care a reality.” As part of MDI Hospital’s efforts to provide the community with integrated care, the organization recently opened the Weekend Care Clinic, offering extended hours for acute care services on holidays and weekends, he said, and has developed a Health Coaching Program that provides one-on-one consultation and support to all primary care patients of MDI Hospital and Health Centers. Blank also asked for a round of applause for the organization’s nurses, many of whom were featured in MDI Hospital’s 2018 Annual Report. “Our nurses are leaders, educators and innovators, delivering the highest standard of personalized, compassionate care through evidence-based practices,” he said.