The iVantage report prepared for the St. Andrews Hospital Task Force, released last night, January 23, concludes “It is possible to have a Critical Access Hospital on the Boothbay Peninsula. MaineHealth and Lincoln County Health should reverse their decision to close the Emergency Department at St. Andrews Hospital.” Read the full report by clicking the link above.

The February 2005 report of the Commission to Study Maine’s Hospitals provided a number of recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Maine’s healthcare network. 

The commission also made an observation that is relevant to this community’s present hospital conundrum: “we learned during our first two meeting that experts in the field can analyze similar data and reach quite different conclusions.”

The task force released its consultant’s report after another unusual closed session. Maine public law prohibits public committees from convening in private except under certain special exemptions. 

The task force convened last night’s meeting under an exemption (Section 405(6)e) that allows public bodies to confer with their attorney regarding legal matters. The statute is also clear that other matters may not be discussed except those specified under the exemption. 

The task force’s attorney Julius Ciembroniewicz was not present last night, but Tom Tavenner attended the meeting. 

From what could be ascertained before this reporter was asked to leave the meeting, its purpose was to finalize the consultant’s report and no legal consultation occurred.