Penobscot Valley Hospital got its start in 1967. Prior to that time, the greater Lincoln area had been served by two, small, privately-owned hospitals. A group of local citizens began discussions aimed at ensuring availability of emergency medical care. The group succeeded in drafting and passing legislation establishing Hospital Administrative District #1. In the summer of 1967, fifteen towns voted to join the district.
PVH opened its doors in June 1973. The facility rapidly outgrew its bed capacity. In 1977 a large construction project added 14 inpatient beds, as well as a new laboratory, physician's office, and administrative space.
In 1988, a remodeling project moved and modernized the ICU and converted medical/surgical beds to a 9-bed Skilled Nursing Facility. Other minor remodeling projects have occurred over the years as the hospital has attempted to find space for increasing outpatient care services.
 A physicians' office building with four suites was constructed in 1988, with a 2-suite expansion added in 1998. Outpatient rehabilitation services moved to a renovated downtown location in 1998, opening additional space within the hospital for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services.
 In 2000, the hospital became a Critical Access Hospital which reduced its licensed beds to 15 acute and 4 swing. In 2002, the Hospital Administrative District was dissolved and PVH became a private non-profit hospital.
In 2003, the Health Center, a licensed rural health clinic located within the Hospital became part of a federally qualified health care group called the Health Access Network. Many of the physicians who work within the hospital are employed by HAN, and the two organizations collaborate on many projects.
 In 2004, the Health Center was renamed Penobscot Primary Care and was moved out of the hospital to the medical office building on the same campus. Also, the Skilled Nursing Facility converted 6 of its 9 beds to swing beds.
PVH continues to evaluate its plant and facility plan for updating, renovations and accommodation of new services and technology. |  |
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