Down East Community Hospital – Our Health, Our Hospital
Community Health Center • Machias, ME • Since 1964
About
Down East Community Hospital (DECH) is a nonprofit acute-care hospital in Machias, Maine, serving Washington County. Founded in 1964, DECH operates a 25-bed facility with a broad range of services and specialty care you’d expect from a rural hospital, including inpatient, outpatient, surgical, pediatric, obstetric/gynecologic, and emergency care. Notable specialties absent in many small hospitals but available here include Orthopedics, Urology, ENT, Surgical Podiatry, and Pain Management, supported by a growing family medicine presence with clinics in Machias, East Machias, Milbridge, and Jonesport. Key details: - Location: Headquartered in Machias, ME, USA; serves Downeast Maine and Washington County. - Type: Nonprofit hospital (NGO/NFP) with a regional health system integration. - Size: 25-bed acute care facility; employs about 62 people. - Founded: Incorporated 1960; first patient admitted December 2, 1964. - Services: Inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical, pediatric, obstetric/gynecologic, and emergency care; specialties include Orthopedics, Urology, ENT, Surgical Podiatry, and Pain Management. - Community focus: Committed to quality, patient safety, and satisfaction; extensive local clinics to improve access to care. - Contact/Access: Main address is 11 Hospital Drive, Machias, ME 04654; main phone 207-255-3356. - Website: dech.org If you’re seeking specifics about the hospital’s current patient services, visiting hours, or appointment availability, check the DECH website or contact the main switchboard.
Clinic Type
Community Health Center
Address
Downeast Maine (Washington County)
Phone
2072553356
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Opening Hours
Not published — contact the clinic to confirm hours.
Website
Services Offered
Insurance & Payment
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Languages Spoken
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Photos
What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- Birdeye: 3.1 out of 5 stars (89 reviews (Google))
- Healthgrades / Homefacts (based on patient surveys): 71% Patient Experience Rating (205 total survey respondents cited)
Patients praise
- Staff described as professional, kind, and dedicated in some patient experiences
- Positive feedback regarding specific procedures and surgical outcomes
- Generally high scores in standard patient satisfaction surveys regarding nurse and doctor communication
Common complaints
- Staffing shortages and high turnover of permanent staff
- Concerns regarding reliance on traveling nurses affecting continuity of care
- Contentious union-management relations, including strikes and votes of no confidence in leadership
- Specific complaints regarding hospital management, communication, and prioritization of patient safety
- Reports of challenges with facilities (e.g., lack of hot water in some areas)
"A Special thank you to all the staff at Down East Community hospital. My surgery was about a year ago . June 17 th on my ankle. Surgeon did a great job. The night nurse Julie Balzer was so very kind."
— Patient review on Birdeye"Terrible I've lived in Machias for 10+ years they never have anything together top doctors have quit and started there own practices If you need immediate care and have to go to the hospital obviously go here but anything other than downeast community hospital is recommended"
— Patient review on WebMDSynthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 11, 2026 — sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- February 2026 - Down East Community Hospital — Feb 6, 2026
- Whiting Woman Left over $207,000 to Down East Community Hospital – Down East Community Hospital — Sep 28, 2025
- December 2025 - Down East Community Hospital — Dec 12, 2025
- September 2025 - Down East Community Hospital — Sep 8, 2025
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 11, 2026.
More community health center clinics in Machias
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Healthways-Regional Medical Center at Lubec is a nonprofit hospital serving the downeast Maine region, with 12 employees and annual revenue around $26 million. It offers substance use disorder and mental health services, plus licensed counseling, and operates as a healthcare provider and local employer. Key details: - Location: Lubec, Maine (2 offices listed; Lubec address provided) - Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services; counseling and related care - Ownership/Status: Private nonprofit; active - Leadership: CEO Tom MacDonald; CFO Michelle Tuttle; Director of Research & Evaluation Michael Edwards - Contact: Main phone numbers (207) 733-5541, 1-207-733-1090 - Website: rmcl.org Note: The provided extract also notes international presence in the United Kingdom and various workforce and operational specifics, but the primary focus is regional, Downeast Maine healthcare and behavioral health services. If you’re looking for an East Machias or Machias clinic specifically named HealthWays/East Machias Clinic, this page represents Healthways-Regional Medical Center at Lubec (Lubec, ME) rather than a Machias-based clinic.
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