Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital

Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital Northern Light AR Gould Hospital, a leading provider of healthcare services in Northern Maine, is an "A.R.

Gould is Aroostook County's leading provider of healthcare services, an advocate for the people we serve, and the area's largest employer. We're a non-profit organization with passionate employees dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the people of
Aroostook County with outstanding skill and compassion."

We are happy to welcome Dr. Craig Thompson to Northern Light Surgery in Presque Isle. While he is new to AR Gould Hospit...
03/20/2026

We are happy to welcome Dr. Craig Thompson to Northern Light Surgery in Presque Isle. While he is new to AR Gould Hospital, he has been working as a surgeon within Northern Light Health for about 16 years, having worked at both Northern Light Mayo Hospital in Dover Foxcroft and the Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville.

In addition to his wide array of general surgery skills, Dr. Thompson is passionate about cancer screenings through his endoscopy work; a big part of his role at AR Gould Hospital will be performing both diagnostic and screening colonoscopies.

Dr. Thompson earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical School. He completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at Louisiana State University. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is licensed to practice in Maine and seven other states.

According to Dr. Thompson, he loves to travel, whether it be for work or pleasure. He also enjoys riding his Peloton every day.

Welcome, Dr. Thompson!

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. As part of the information we are sharing about brain injuries this mont...
03/19/2026

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. As part of the information we are sharing about brain injuries this month, we want to introduce you to some of our Northern Light Rehabilitation team members who are specially trained to work with patients recovering from these kinds of injuries.

We have several rehab therapists at AR Gould Hospital who have special training in the area of brain injuries. Therapy is provided to inpatients recovering in our Acute Rehab unit, as well as to outpatients.

Rachel is a physical therapist who works with patients to regain strength, function, and independence. Treatments are individualized depending on the patient’s pain, activity tolerance, interests, and goals.

As an occupational therapist, Michaela works with patients on a variety of daily living skills, visual perception, reaction time, and more. She can also help patients develop strategies to compensate for deficits.

Anthony and Kayla, speech language pathologists, determine cognitive deficits through testing and then work with the patient to develop a treatment plan which might include coping with behavior changes or coming up with strategies to improve new memory or attention difficulties.

To heal after an injury, the brain requires a combination of early rest, gradual reintegration of activities, and targeted rehabilitation therapies for the best recovery results.

While some may think concussions aren’t serious, they are actually a mild form of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 3 thin...
03/11/2026

While some may think concussions aren’t serious, they are actually a mild form of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

3 things you should know about concussions

1. They happen more often than you think.
Concussions can happen from blows to the head during sports activities or accidents, or may result from simple mishaps, like walking into a door and banging your head.

2. Symptoms aren’t always obvious.
Common symptoms can be easy to spot – headaches, dizziness, nausea, and hearing or vision problems. Less common symptoms are harder – sleep difficulties, depression, anxiety, and slower-than-normal reaction time.

3. Screen time, alcohol, and caffeine all impact recovery.
Avoid screen time in the first 48 hours of recovery. Limit both caffeine and alcohol consumption during recovery.

To read about Carly Guerrette’s personal experience with a concussion, click here:https://ow.ly/GthY50Yrm3t

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it can be highly cu...
03/09/2026

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it can be highly curable if found early. To learn more, click the link below to see the WABI interview with Fort Fairfield native Dr. Tyler Bernaiche, a colorectal surgeon at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

https://ow.ly/I55L50Yruhv

For Social Work Awareness Month, we celebrate the unique, integral role medical social workers play within our healthcar...
03/06/2026

For Social Work Awareness Month, we celebrate the unique, integral role medical social workers play within our healthcare system.

Medical social workers help navigate, and co-coordinate patient-centered care plans; advocate; educate about available treatment options, resources, and services; and provide support during crises.

For hospice patients, social workers ensure end-of-life goals are respected; provide advanced care planning; emotional and psychological support; connect families with community resources; and offer caregiver support.

💙 We honor and recognize your compassion, professionalism, and dedication to patient care - thank you! 💙

Featured are some of our incredible social workers!

If you are in one of our facilities today and notice people wearing jeans and other casual attire, you should know that ...
03/06/2026

If you are in one of our facilities today and notice people wearing jeans and other casual attire, you should know that it is because it is a Casual for a Cause Day at AR Gould. This program allows team members (where appropriate) to dress down twice a month for a nominal donation that supports great causes, some within our hospital and others within our local community.

This month's funds support ACAP's Emergency Services Fund. Emergency funds are used to meet immediate, critical needs when no other resources are available. Every dollar will help ACAP meet a need that would otherwise go unmet.

We greatly appreciate the funds our staff donate that support 12 great causes over the course of the year!

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. Awareness covers both Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)—caused by external fo...
03/04/2026

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. Awareness covers both Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)—caused by external forces like falls or accidents—and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), which includes strokes, infections, or seizures.

TBIs can range from mild (a concussion) to severe, causing long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional impairment.

TBI is unpredictable in its consequences. Where the injury is in the brain may determine how you are affected. You could have trouble controlling emotions and behavior; recalling events; speaking; memory; primary senses; balance and coordination; or seeing or perceiving the size and shape of objects.

TBI recovery varies based on injury severity, with mild cases often resolving within 3 months, while moderate-to-severe cases may take months or years. Rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, is critical for maximizing cognitive and physical function.

Looking for grief support? Come join one of Northern Light Home Care & Hospice's free, six-week Grief Support Groups in ...
03/02/2026

Looking for grief support? Come join one of Northern Light Home Care & Hospice's free, six-week Grief Support Groups in Presque Isle or Van Buren starting in March.

Presque Isle – Northern Light AR Gould Hospital
Six consecutive Wednesdays, March 4 – April 8, 2026
6 – 7:30 pm

Van Buren – The Connect Center
Six consecutive Tuesdays, March 10 – April 14, 2026
6-7:30 pm

These groups are free, open to the public, and limited to 12 participants. Registration is required.

For more information and to register, please contact George McLaughlin, bereavement coordinator at Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, at 207.498.9039 or gmclaughlin@northernlight.org.

As part of the hospital's Aroostook Career Exploration (ACE) program, we were thrilled to have 27 students from five are...
02/27/2026

As part of the hospital's Aroostook Career Exploration (ACE) program, we were thrilled to have 27 students from five area schools join us for the day at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

During the event, students had the opportunity to tour several UMPI program areas, including PTA/Exercise Science, Medical Laboratory Technician, Education, Business Administration, and Accounting.

Through these hands‑on tours, ACE students were able to explore a variety of UMPI degree pathways and gain a clearer understanding of whether these fields might be the right fit for their future.

Our ACE program is designed to provide local high school students with real‑world career exploration opportunities. Students can learn about careers available both within our community and right here at our hospital. As you can see from our photos, the students had an amazing time discovering new possibilities!

A huge thank you to the staff and faculty at UMPI for welcoming our students and creating such a meaningful experience.

Linda Menard from AR Gould Hospital was a guest during Toddler Time at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library this w...
02/27/2026

Linda Menard from AR Gould Hospital was a guest during Toddler Time at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library this week. She did a lesson with the kiddos on hand hygiene and germs.

Linda read Sherm the Germ to the group, led a coloring activity, and introduced them to the "Purple Monster" - a device that shows kids what their hands look like before and after washing them.

Thank you to the team at the library for inviting us to join them! Linda hopes to keep the collaboration going by leading an educational, fun activity at the library once every quarter.

Did you know that age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older Americans? February is AMD...
02/24/2026

Did you know that age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older Americans?

February is AMD/low vision awareness month, a time to shine light on the importance of vision health. AMD/low vision affects millions and impacts daily activities, such as reading and driving.

“Low vision is classified as impairment not able to be corrected by glasses or surgery. Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive disease impacting the retina, which causes central vision loss,” says Dr. Meredith Marcincin, DO, ophthalmologist at Northern Light Eye Care in Presque Isle.

That’s why it’s crucial to get yearly eye exams to detect these issues early. “Comprehensive eye exams, healthy diets rich in antioxidants and greens leafy vegetables, smoking cessation, and UV eye protection are crucial to help prevent and slow the progression of macular degeneration.” says Dr. Marcincin.

For more information, visit Northernlighthealth.org/eye-care.

Linda Menard and Julie Plummer, co-chairs of AR Gould Hospital's Total Health Team, led a snowshoe hike on Sunday on the...
02/23/2026

Linda Menard and Julie Plummer, co-chairs of AR Gould Hospital's Total Health Team, led a snowshoe hike on Sunday on the trails at the Malcom Science Center in Easton. It was a beautiful day for a hike, and the trails were perfect! Thanks to all who joined them in the adventure!

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140 Academy Street
Presque Isle, ME
04769

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+12077684000

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"A.R. Gould is Aroostook County's leading provider of healthcare services, an advocate for the people we serve, and the area's largest employer. We're a non-profit organization with passionate employees dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the people of Aroostook County with outstanding skill and compassion."