Message from the Superintendent (December 21, 2007)

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” - Douglas Adams

Happy holidays to each of you. It is a joyous time of year and I hope each of you enjoy a happy holiday season with those you love. It is a time I always take pleasure in reflecting on the past year. In this last year you have accomplished incredible things. Lower Kennebec has spent over half the year without relying on a mechanical restraint. That is an incredible feat. It is very significant in the history of the state in providing care. Consider that in the 167 year history of the hospital, those staff working on Lower Kennebec right now, are the Best ever employed at assisting persons in distress without resorting on coercive actions! Pretty cool.

Also, in that same historic period, you established a healthier care environment by eliminating smoking. Not only did you accomplish a feat unable to be obtained for over 166 years, you did it in such a way that other hospitals in the nation are referring to the way Riverview did it! I hope you beam with pride over that fact. I do.

You had the quality of care delivered at this facility was assessed by both CMS and JCAHO. Both surveys resulted verifying the quality work here at this facility. Both surveys also resulted in the surveyors sharing how favorably Riverview compares with others psychiatric hospitals. Good for you.

The best accomplishments are those that sometimes, get the least attention. They involve the connections you make with the clients we serve every single day. Helping clients develop hope for a better life and the belief that they can obtain the recovery they want is something that doesn’t get measured and rarely is reported. It just happens. And it happens everyday at Riverview. It is why most of you come to work each day. It feels pretty good to be such a positive force in another persons life. The staff at Riverview are impressive. Have a very merry holiday season.

In Service,

David S. Proffitt

“Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don't put off being happy until some future date.” - Dale Carnegie

Agency information

Message from the Superintendent (December 21, 2007)