Redington-Fairview General Hospital

11/25/2025

RFGH is pleased to announce our newest The DAISY Foundation award recipient, Karen Gardner!

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 of ITP, an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created this international award to say thank you to nurses everywhere.

Karen is a dedicated RFGH employee working in our Birthing Center who truly models our cores values.

Karen's nomination:

Throughout our entire stay, Karen was a beacon for us both as patients and new parents. Her empathy and kindness were invaluable to us in helping navigate our new lives as parents.

There were many examples throughout our stay that highlighted Karen’s empathy-led approach to nursing, but one in particular that drove us to put forth this nomination. For context, our son was delivered via C-section because of the arrest of dilation during induction.

The first real night with our child following his delivery we experienced a BRUE. We awoke in the middle of the night to him being blue in color and not breathing. This was quickly resolved, and the staff on duty were amazing at ensuring he was ok. This was obviously an extremely heartbreaking and terrifying ordeal for our new family.

The following day we both were exhausted and overwhelmed with anxiety for the health of our child. Karen was back on shift. She was incredibly compassionate for our situation. She helped explain to us in detail all of the monitoring steps that were occurring and even some technical information to help empower us to not be further distressed by the monitoring activities. Beyond this, she also shared extremely kind words with both my partner and me, which showed that she not only took the time to learn about us as individuals, but more importantly, that she truly cared for the well-being of our new family. Without her care and support, I’m not sure how we would have gotten through this situation.

After the BRUE event, we were doubting our instincts and abilities as parents and were in fear for our child’s health. After Karen, we were not only reassured about our child's health but also more confident than ever in our parenting abilities. She made us feel seen and heard, but most critically, understood. I am sure this is no more than another day at work for her, but to us it meant everything. This nomination is the least we can do to repay our gratitude, and we hope that Karen's efforts do not go unnoticed. She is truly an exemplary figure of the impact that healthcare providers can have. We will remember her kindness for the rest of our lives.

The DAISY award at RFGH is made possible through the generosity of Purdue Global . If you have received extraordinary nursing care while at RFGH, you may submit a nomination at https://lnkd.in/evbGTMUE

Please join us in congratulating Karen on this amazing and well deserved honor!

11/25/2025

We’re proud to highlight a recent collaboration that strengthens safety across our state. Ian Shalit, RFGH paramedic, Augusta Maine Fire-Rescue firefighter, and seasoned first responder, recently partnered with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office to deliver a STOP THE BLEED® training for their Investigations Division in Augusta.

STOP THE BLEED®, a U.S. Department of Defense initiative, has been part of RFGH’s community outreach since Shalit helped launch the program locally in 2018. This training teaches anyone, regardless of medical background, how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act fast using three simple techniques: apply pressure, control bleeding, and use a tourniquet. With first responder arrival averaging 7–10 minutes, and life-threatening blood loss happening in as little as 2–5 minutes, these skills save lives.

As a result of this training, every Fire Marshal investigator, who also serves as a sworn law enforcement officer, was provided with a STOP THE BLEED® kit to carry in their cruiser, ready to respond to critical incidents anywhere in Maine. They are now equipped with essential, life-saving tools that could make a real difference when every second counts.

We’re proud of the commitment to readiness and community care shown by all involved. If your organization is interested in hosting a STOP THE BLEED® course, please contact RFGH Community Health at 858-2318.

11/24/2025

We still have a few spots left in our December Safe Sitter class! Does your child want to start babysitting to make extra money? Safe Sitter teaches middle school students how to safely care for younger children, while practicing professional business skills. Spots are limited, so register soon! To sign your child up, please call (207) 858-2318 or email bdunphy@rfgh.net.

11/24/2025

The birth of a baby is a monumental time in a family’s life. Redington-Fairview General Hospital’s Birthing Center in Skowhegan is dedicated to making your experience exceptional! The Birthing Center provides the highest quality of care, from early education classes and one-on-one breastfeeding support to private suites designed for comfort and family bonding. They offer personalized comfort options like birthing balls and a whirlpool bath tub, as well as pain management options such as epidurals. Visit www.rfgh.net to learn more. Reach for good health with Redington Fairview General Hospital!

11/24/2025

As we wrap up National Family Caregivers Month, we wanted to highlight the unique experiences family caregivers experience. The U.S. Administration for Community Living created this video to show the “faces of caregiving.”

Thank you to all of the family caregivers in our local communities!

Across the nation, millions of parents, partners, spouses, adult and minor children, friends, and neighbors provide billions of dollars in unpaid assistance ...

11/19/2025

November 18-24 is U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week

Antibiotic and antifungal drugs are valuable tools for treating infections, but any use can cause side effects and contribute to Antimicrobial Resistance. At Redington-Fairview, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others are working to slow the development of drug resistant bacteria. You can help by using antibiotics only when necessary, taking them as prescribed when they are needed, discussing drug allergies with your health care provider, and keeping up to date on vaccinations.

11/17/2025

Redington-Fairview General Hospital is your partner for better health. We offer community health and wellness programs, a network of adult and pediatric primary care providers, a family-centered Birthing Center, and specialists in Cardiology, Endocrinology, GI, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Neurology, and more. Why go anywhere else? State-of-the-art imaging, Saturday outpatient lab hours, 24-hour emergency medicine, patient-centered endoscopy and surgical units, and a Rehab and fitness center are all conveniently located in Skowhegan. Learn more at www.rfgh.net Reach for good health with Redington-Fairview General Hospital!

11/14/2025

Join us on Thursday, November 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for our Craft Fair!
Be sure to stop by and visit all of our vendors — tables will be set up in the Main Lobby and Conference Rooms 1, 2, and 4.

11/12/2025

No two family caregivers are alike and neither are the loved one they care for.

What does being a family caregiver mean to you?

11/11/2025

On this Veterans Day, we extend our gratitude to all who have served our country—especially our RFGH veterans. Thank you for your dedication, courage, and continued service to others.

11/10/2025

It’s that time of year again!
RFGH Community Health is proud to host our annual Healthcare for Hygiene Fundraiser — helping neighbors in need gain access to essential hygiene products many of us take for granted.

Did you know?
• 69% of adults have had to choose between paying for food or hygiene products.
• 65% of parents experiencing hygiene poverty must decide whether to buy for themselves or their children.
• 92% say not having access to hygiene items negatively affects their relationships with family and friends.

Want to make a difference? Drop off your donations at any of these locations:
• Redington-Fairview General Hospital
• Madison Town Office
• Fairfield Town Office

Together, we can make hygiene accessible for everyone! Check out our graphic for full details.

11/10/2025

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and we want to recognize all of the family caregivers in our local communities.

More than 53 million family caregivers in the United States care for a loved one and don’t get paid. Being a family caregiver is one of the most rewarding jobs someone can have, but it can also be difficult. If you are a family caregiver, we want to tell you that you are not alone and the work you do is valuable!