NORTH ANSON — The more than 3,000 patients at the New Horizons Health Care family practice on Main Street no longer will have to drive to Skowhegan or Waterville for an X-ray.

The K & C Quint Memorial Health Center, a department of Inland Hospital, has received a substantial donation from Henry and Ellen Hinman for state-of-the-art X-ray equipment.

“We just wanted to enhance the health care capabilities of this clinic,” Henry Hinman said after a dedication ceremony Monday.

He and his wife lived in Anson for many years. They are now permanent residents of Sarasota, Fla., and spend summers in Embden.

The Hinmans made the donation of an undisclosed amount in their daughter’s name. Natalie Kay Hinman died at age 38, they said, though they declined to say how.

“We just thought it would be a good thing to do so her name would be remembered as well,” Henry Hinman said.

Dr. John Garofalo, the clinic’s physician, said the X-ray machine will allow him to stop sending three to four patients a day to a larger facility with the necessary equipment. The clinic serves more than 3,000 individual patients.

He plans to use the machine for chest, bone or abdominal X-rays to check for problems such as lung disease, fractures or bowel obstructions.

The clinic handles about 500 visits per month, he said, and serves those from a wide area, from Bingham to Norridgewock and Canaan.

“I’d like to thank the Hinmans for making a significant contribution to the quality of the health care that this clinic delivers, especially in light of the fact that it’s in memory of their daughter,” Garofalo said.

“The biggest advantage of the new X-ray equipment is it’s all digital,” he said. That means any participating radiologist can access the film and make a faster diagnosis. “Everybody can be looking at the film at once. It’s an enormous advantage.”

Henry Hinman said he and his wife were friends with now-deceased Kenton and Elinor Quint, who helped start the clinic in 1985.

“We always thought it was a wonderful thing for this community,” Hinman said. “We just decided that we wanted to do something to help modernize it, perhaps something that there might not be budgetary money for.”

After talking with Garofalo about the clinic’s needs, the Hinmans settled on providing the X-ray equipment. Building modifications and installation occurred during the last year, and the equipment is now operational, Hinman said.

Monday’s dedication happened exactly eight years after the Hinmans found out about their daughter’s death, he said.

Ellen Hinman said the whole family has relied on the clinic for its health care needs since it opened.

“It was very rewarding to know the clinic has been updated,” she said.

Sara Dyer, director of community relations for Inland Hospital, said the hospital is excited about the generous donation.

“This is a great chance to contribute to the future of health care in the small community,” she said.

The North Anson practice is one of 18 family and specialty practices under the auspices of Inland Hospital.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com

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