BRUNSWICK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- People in the Brunswick area will apparently see a fight over the future of one of their hospitals Brunswick has two hospitals - Parkview Adventist Medical Center and the larger Midcoast Hospital.
Central Maine Healthcare wants to take over Parkview, and Parkview's board has agreed to the plan. Central Maine Medical Center has had a relationship with Parkview for a decade, according to officials in both Brunswick and Lewist5on. CMMC provides Parkview's emergency room staff, as well as some other management functions. But now Midcoast Hospital has filed its own proposal to merge with Parkview -- even though leaders at Parkview say they don't want to that merger.
Leaders of both hospitals say they want to cut costs and improve efficiency. Parkview's interim President says the takeover would let them use the larger CMH system to reduce operating costs. But Midcoast's CEO says the two hospitals have far too many empty beds, and says consolidating could save nearly $25 million per year.
Both hospital leaders sclaim to have lots of community support.
Central Maine Healthcare and Midcoast Hospital have filed applications with the state for a Certificate of Need to take over Parkview. The Department of Health and Human Services will review the applications and make the decision, but there's no indication yet how long that process might take.
Parkview has 55 beds and about 300 employees, while Midcoast has 92 beds and more than 1,600 employees. Parkview is currently owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventists church. Interim President Randee Reynolds says if they are acquired by CMH, Parkview will continue the "faith-based" care it provides now, although it will not have an affiliation with any particular religion.
NEWS CENTER