After weeks of work, the hospital task force has engaged a consultant to develop an alternative healthcare plan for the peninsula. Also in the works are a petition (see related article), a Second Opinion fundraising drive and a plan for a large community meeting. Task force members also gained broader public exposure of the peninsula’s healthcare dilemma at the Parkview Hospital hearing in Brunswick October 24.

Community hospital group

Representative Bruce MacDonald said his work group had selected national healthcare consulting firm iVantage Health Analytics to develop an alternative healthcare plan that focuses on retaining a critical access hospital.

“They have worked with hundreds of hospitals, including critical access hospitals, around the country. They have enormous experience, enormous data, and enormous talent that can be brought to bear on the problem that we have,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald said the plan would cost $35,000 and asked the task force to approve a retainer of $8,750 so iVantage could begin work. He said Ralph Gabarro, former CEO of Mayo Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft, would also work on the project.

Boothbay Selectman Chuck Cunningham said he was concerned that the task force not be bound to a commitment for which funds had not been raised. After a fundraising discussion and assurance that the details could be worked out, the task force approved the $8,750 request.

MacDonald’s work group also plans to visit critical access hospitals in Maine to gather information on how they are remaining viable.

Second opinion

A Second Opinion account has been set up at the First National Bank of Damariscotta to accept funds for the alternative healthcare plan. Pledge cards and information on fundraising events can be obtained by contacting the Boothbay Town Office.

Parkview public hearing

Selectmen Stuart Smith and Smith Climo spoke of the lack of community involvement in the St. Andrews decision at the October 24 Department of Health and Human Service’s (DHHS) public hearing on the proposed merger of Parkview Hospital and Central Maine Medical Center.  “We went to support the process and we were denied here,” Smith said.

Smith said in addition to media exposure, they also received an assurance from DHHS “that we will have our say.”

“They will be having a public hearing at some time, probably in the Damariscotta area,” Smith said.

Community meeting

The task force plans to convene a large community meeting in the coming weeks. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the task force’s lawyer to inform the public of legal plans and for the public to give input on the alternative healthcare plan. Cunningham said he hoped the attorney’s presentation would assure residents that the task force is not “looking to get into a huge monetary lawsuit.”

The task force will not meet next Tuesday, Nov. 6 (Election Day).

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