Kno-Wal-Lin Continues to Bolster
Island Healthcare Alliance

In an effort to more efficiently meet the healthcare needs of the Midcoast island communities, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice (KWL) has donated a second car in just less than a year.

Kno-Wal-Lin, a member of the Pen Bay Healthcare family of services, first donated a 1998 Subaru Outback to the Ivan Calderwood Home on Vinalhaven in 2007 and now has donated a second car, a 1996 Subaru Legacy, to the Boardman Cottage located on Islesboro. Both cars were purchased at a discount from the Warren Auto Barn, owned and operated by Joel Gay.

KWL sends nurses, therapists, social workers, home health aides and other healthcare workers to Vinalhaven, North Haven and Islesboro to meet with patients. Island transportation is coordinated on Vinalhaven by the Ivan Calderwood Home and on Islesboro by the Boardman Cottage. Both the Ivan Calderwood Home and the Boardman Cottage are assisted living facilities for island elderly, and are used as a base of operations for the KWL healthcare workers.

"One of the difficulties in providing services to island communities is getting the healthcare providers to and from the patients' homes," said Sarah Dwelley, RN, Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Kno-Wal-Lin. "With the increased need for home care on all the islands, this has become more and more difficult."

To solve this transportation problem, KWL purchased the two vehicles and then donated them to the island assisted living facilities. The facilities are responsible for maintenance of the vehicles and have use of them when needed. The cars will be available to Kno-Wal-Lin staff when they are on the island.

"We have been thrilled with this solution," Dwelley said. "We anticipate the experience on Islesboro to be as positive as it has been on Vinalhaven. This is a win-win situation and we are grateful to both the Calderwood Home and the Boardman Cottage for their continued support of our services."

"This solution allows Kno-Wal-Lin to provide increased, high-quality health services to our island residents," said Maura Michael, Boardman Cottage Administrator. "We greatly appreciate Kno-Wal-Lin providing such good care here on Islesboro."

Island healthcare services are being delivered more efficiently with the donation of a second Subaru all-wheel-drive car by Kno-Wal-Lin Homecare and Hospice to the Boardman Cottage on Islesboro. Kno-Wal-Lin healthcare workers are sent regularly to visit island patients and the donation allows more efficient delivery of those services. From left: Cory Gay, Warren Auto Barn Sales Manager; Maura Michael, Boardman Cottage Administrator; Sarah Dwelley, Kno-Wal-Lin Director of Hospice and Palliative Care; Joel Gay, owner of Warren Auto Barn.