St. Mary's Hospital Loans Medical Equipment To Mainers
St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston is offering a unique service to residents of greater Androscoggin County. Those in need of medical equipment and unable to afford it are able to borrow various home healthcare equipment for free.
Medical Equipment To Go, or METGO, is a service provided by the hospital to area residents who are unable to buy or rent their own medical equipment. The equipment in stock covers many of the basic needs for home healthcare including crutches, canes, commodes, shower chairs, walkers, IV poles and wheelchairs.
Now in its second year, the program helps patients who are uninsured and those who Medicare denies covering the cost of equipment. The borrowing process is simple, as St. Mary’s asks those in need to fill out a form and will loan the equipment for an unidentified period of time. Some patients borrow equipment for a few weeks while they recover from an injury or illness, others use the equipment upwards of six months to a year.
The medical equipment is kept on site at the hospital in storage and is loaned out on a need-to-use basis. The borrower must make arrangements to pick up the equipment but is then able to keep it for as long as needed. Nearly all of the equipment is lightly used and donated by people in the surrounding area. METGO also accepts donations toward the purchase of new medical equipment to loan.
The entire METGO division of St. Mary’s hospital is run by a committee of volunteers. The dedication to providing Mainers help in a time of need is noble, and we at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein salute and thank the kind people at St. Mary’s hospital.
To learn more about METGO or inquire about borrowing medical equipment, please visit: www.stmarysmaine.com/patient-guide/patient-centered-care/metgo.html.
