MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital invites community members to a virtual public forum on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 7 p.m., to meet the independent experts reviewing the data and process behind the decision to transition labor and delivery services from Lincoln Hospital to MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital.

The review team will assess whether all alternatives considered by Lincoln Hospital management, including those identified in the White Paper and those provided by external entities, were reasonable, feasible and sustainable. The reviewers are free to reach conclusions that differ from those of MaineHealth or other stakeholders.

The five-member team brings national and Maine-based expertise in maternal-fetal medicine, family medicine, nurse-midwifery, public health and healthcare operations. Together, the reviewers have experience in obstetric quality and safety, rural maternity care, workforce sustainability and community engagement, including a statewide assessment of Maine's rural obstetric workforce.

"We believe the data and process that informed our decision were fair and reasonable, and we welcome an independent assessment," said Cindy Wade, president, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital. "We also recognize the importance of ensuring that alternatives proposed by community stakeholders are evaluated for their merits and sustainability."

At the forum, the review team will introduce themselves and explain the review's scope, process and timeline. No pre-registration is required; Join the forum via this meeting link (https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2272290324733987?p=DWwwZQENxJzrIiE8UH). Questions about the independent review may be submitted in advance to LincolnFeedback@mainehealth.org. Community members and other stakeholders may also send written comments to the same address for the review team's consideration.

The reviewers will prepare a written report of their findings, which will be shared with MaineHealth and the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services. MaineHealth intends to make the report publicly available and provide a written response to the findings and recommendations.

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2272290324733987?p=DWwwZQENxJzrIiE8UH

For more details about the independent review, visit https://lincolnmidcoastobgyn.mainehealth.org/