ROCKPORT AND BELFAST — MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals are repurposing surplus medical equipment and supplies through an ongoing partnership with Partners for World Health, a Portland-based nonprofit organization that collects functional medical equipment and surplus medical supplies for redistribution to communities in need.

 

In healthcare, supplies and equipment can become surplus for a variety of reasons, according to a MaineHealth news release. Product standardization, equipment upgrades or the discontinuation of a product may leave hospitals with items that are no longer needed but that can be redirected to organizations and communities where they can serve a purpose.

 

In 2025, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital’s Environmental Services (EVS) team collected and donated 32 boxes of medical supplies and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital donated 20 boxes, contributing to the 42,000 pounds donated through the MaineHealth system last year. Departments throughout both hospitals and their outpatient locations contribute supplies throughout the year to support the ongoing effort. So far this year, the Pen Bay EVS team has donated an additional eight boxes.

 

"A box of supplies donated to us by a hospital in Maine ends up getting a second life somewhere it's genuinely needed - whether that is a clinic on the other side of the world, or a local family receiving items they could not access elsewhere,” said Laura Darnell, director of Materials Management at Partners for World Health, in the news release. “This model only works because our hospital partners have made it a priority. Pen Bay and Waldo are part of a growing group of MaineHealth facilities doing this consistently, and that kind of reliable partnership is what makes our redistribution work possible."

 

Partners for World Health accepts medical supplies, including dressings, gloves, syringes and other consumable items. To ensure safety and quality, any equipment must be clean, undamaged and in working order. Once received, Partners for World Health redistributes the donated supplies and equipment locally and globally. Through its Global Shipment Program, Partners for World Health sends 40-foot containers of repurposed medical supplies and equipment, valued at $350,000 on average, to under-resourced hospitals and clinics around the world. The organization also provides equipment and supplies to individuals and community organizations locally, serving people in need across Maine and New England.

 

“I recently saw care team members showing others where the collection bins were located—these small actions add up,” said Judith Harrington, director of Environmental and Linen Services for MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital. “By taking the time to collect and sort items that can be reused, we are helping ensure valuable medical supplies reach people who need them.”

 

Harrington has supported medical supply reuse efforts through her work with Environmental Services for nearly a decade, working with departments across the hospital to identify opportunities to give supplies a second life. Her work underscores MaineHealth’s commitment to integrating environmental sustainability into health care by identifying practical ways to use resources responsibly.

 

“This partnership provides an opportunity to make use of resources that can no longer be used in one setting but can make a meaningful difference in another,” said Tyson Thornton, PharmD, FACHE, senior director of Operations at Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals. “It is a great example of what is possible when care teams, sustainability efforts and community organizations work together.”

 

To learn more about Partners for World Health and its work to extend the life of medical resources and improve access to care, visit: partnersforworldhealth.org.