Lincoln County Healthcare would probably like to hold a community meeting where the focus is solutions, not problems, but they haven’t arrived there yet.

On October 12, in their first transition advisory group meeting, the talk was more about communication and trust than evolving healthcare plans. Since the healthcare organization announced its plan to change St. Andrews Hospital emergency department into a daytime-only urgent care center and close the skilled nursing wing, it’s been a familiar theme.

By April 2013, Lincoln County Healthcare plans to convert the local critical access hospital into an ambulatory care center. The healthcare organization assembled this new advisory group to help them and the community work through the changes that need to take place over the next six months to achieve that goal.

Lincoln County Healthcare has a plan to tackle the logistical and regulatory hurdles they face, but they are still struggling with communicating their healthcare plan and its sensibility to the community.

East Boothbay resident and former Congregational Church pastor Peter Panagore started the conversation by noting “the lack of transparency” and the  “paternalism in decision-making and communication” that precipitated Lincoln County Healthcare’s current public trust conundrum.

“This isn’t the way it’s done these days,” Panagore said, “You need to rebuild community trust and support.” Panagore called for a more inclusive decision-making process and a more thorough explanation of the data underlying recent decisions.

Christine Bastian, a member of the healthcare organization’s regular advisory group, said that group had not been informed or consulted until the hospital decision was final. Bastian questioned whether this new transition group would have any meaningful input to Lincoln County Healthcare’s plans.

Several others agreed that Lincoln County Healthcare should hold more public meetings and identified several topics that need clarification. Others urged the healthcare organization to firm up their plans, such as those to improve the local ambulance service, to reduce public concerns.  

Rep. Les Fossel (R-Alna) said that it was up to Lincoln County Healthcare to “eliminate the adversarial relationship” that was distracting the community from the shared goals of improving healthcare and reducing healthcare costs.

School Superintendent Eileen King empathized with the healthcare organization’s need to cut costs and programs commensurate with use. It’s a situation King and local schools have faced in recent years with declining enrollment. King said she couldn’t imagine a situation where continuing business as usual would be acceptable.  

King said the community’s anger, sadness and denial were feelings to be expected but it was important to focus on facts and not perceptions. “We’re here now. How do we move forward in a positive manner?” King said.

Lincoln County Healthcare Vice Presidents Cindy Leavitt and Stacey Miller said the information gathered in this and future advisory group meetings will refine the healthcare organization’s plans.

“We were incredibly thrilled with both the turnout and the participation of the community committee this morning. Participants were frank in their comments, criticisms and suggestions. We look forward to working with this group and others who wish to participate as we transform our St. Andrews campus,” Miller wrote in an email after the meeting.

The Lincoln County Healthcare community advisory group will meet once monthly; the meetings are open to the public. The date for the next meeting has not yet been set.

Sue Mello can be reached at 844-4629 or sumello@boothbayregister.com.