Island Health Services

The Maine Sea Coast Mission began a Telemedicine Program operating from the Sunbeam and serving three islands (Frenchboro, Matinicus and Swan's Island) in 2002. This program grew and matured in a variety of ways and in 2003 and was renamed Sunbeam Island Health Services.

In 2003, a fourth island, Isle au Haut, was added to the list of islands receiving high quality health and medical services through the Sunbeam Island Health Services Program. New programs and services were also added during 2003. We offered health promotion and screening clinics for diabetes, cholesterol, prostate and skin cancers on each island. At these clinics we also offered flu and pneumonia vaccines as well as tetanus inoculations. Over 60 people participated in these clinics, screenings and inoculations. Most utilized several of the services being offered.

Sunbeam Island Health Services is an essential program to sustainable life on the isolated islands off the coast of Maine. The Sunbeam and its nurse, Sharon Daley, have been accepted by the islanders. The credibility of the program has been established and the islanders are making regular use of it. The regular visits are now a part of the cycle of life on these islands.

Nurse Sharon Daley may be reached by email at sdaley@midcoast.com.