Blue Hill – The boards of directors of Blue Hill Memorial Hospital and Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Foundation have decided to take more time to consider their proposed affiliation with Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. While the original plan was to vote on October 27th, the decision will most likely not be made until the boards meet again in November or December.
“The board is carefully reviewing the affiliation documents and awaits important decisions to be made by EMHS and EMH regarding their governance modernization process,” reports Dr. Stanley Bergen, Hospital Board Chair. “We are making good progress but we are exercising great care to ensure the autonomy and strength of this hospital.”
Three additional meetings were called in October to scrutinize the proposed bylaws and affiliation agreement. According to CEO Tim Garrity, the board has expressed support for the affiliation discussions to go forward. “The proposed agreement allows us an unusual degree of autonomy and independence, preserving local control of our financial assets and our 80-year history of personalized care and compassion.”
The Hospital board and the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Foundation boards have worked diligently over the past months to determine what would be in the best interest of the community.
“EMHS is the most likely source of the resources we need to meet the quality standards of the future,” Garrity explains. “The primary reason to undertake this important step is the potential for improving the quality of care we offer. Consumers have increasing expectations of clinical quality, competitive pricing, and continuity of care. Small hospitals need to obtain significant resources from some larger entity. For BHMH, EMHS is the most logical source of such resources.”
Blue Hill Memorial Hospital is dedicated to providing primary and selected specialty healthcare of outstanding quality, caring for its patients with respect and compassion, and improving the health of the communities it serves. The hospital is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. For more information about BHMH, please go to www.bhmh.org or call the Community Relations department at 374-2836 ext 1003. |
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