Pen Bay Healthcare Encourages Public Discussion of
Possible Membership in MaineHealth
at Second Community Meeting

The Pen Bay Healthcare Board of Trustees invites the public to attend a special information session on Tuesday, July 21, at 5 p.m. at the Camden Public Library.

The primary purpose of this presentation is to make our community aware that Pen Bay Healthcare, which includes Penobscot Bay Medical Center, is assessing the possibility of becoming a full member in MaineHealth, and to solicit feedback from the community. The Pen Bay Healthcare Board and PBMC medical staff leadership voted unanimously in January to begin this formal assessment process.

The July 21 meeting in Camden will be the second community event held on this topic. The first meeting, held in June in Rockland, featured vigorous discussion about the impact of such a change, in particular, how full membership in MaineHealth will impact local control over the community's healthcare system.

Among the questions asked at the Rockland meeting:

• Is Pen Bay a non-profit? Who owns it?
• What happens to local control? Can (MaineHealth) eliminate services?
• Why was MaineHealth chosen over another healthcare system, i.e., in Bangor or Lewiston?
• How will the Pen Bay Healthcare board be chosen?
• What happens to the PBH endowment and fund raising?
• Why make this change now?

A panel of PBH people will lead the Camden discussion.

Today, Pen Bay Healthcare is a Strategic Affiliate of MaineHealth and has been since the fall of 2007. Based on the very positive results of PBH's current relationship with MaineHealth, the PBH Board of Trustees have begun this formal exploration and assessment of the implications —pros and cons, of full membership in MaineHealth with an eye towards answering the key fundamental question: "Will Pen Bay Healthcare be better able to serve the future healthcare needs of our community as a member of MaineHealth, or by remaining independent?"

This information session will involve a short presentation and plenty of time for questions and answers. For some additional information, please visit penbayhealthcare.org/mainehealth