Mid Coast-Parkview Hospital in Brunswick is considering joining MaineHealth. The Mid Coast board recently voted to form an exploratory committee to move from a 25-year affiliation with MaineHealth to full integration.
Hospital CEO Lois Skillings says Mid Coast is financially strong, but needs to secure its future in an increasingly complex industry.
"There's a myriad of things, such as shifting government policies, an uncertainty about government policies in the future, frankly. Growth in uncompensated care," Skillings says.
Skillings says Mid Coast provided more than $24 million in uncompensated care last year.
"It's increasingly challenging for a small, stand alone community health center to think about this increasingly complex world on our own," Skillings says.
A series of public forums on joining MaineHealth will be held mid-March. The hospital board is expected to reach a decision within six months.
