BIDDEFORD — Folks will see some changes when two York County hospitals, Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford and Goodall Hospital in Sanford, merge to become Southern Maine Health Care on Jan. 1.

The merger comes as the next step after the 58-bed Goodall Hospital and its three eldercare facilities joined the MaineHealth system in 2012.

The presidents of the two facilities, Ed McGeachey at the 150-bed SMMC and Patsy Aprile at Goodall, say the merger will be positive for both communities. The two hospital presidents acknowledge that Goodall Hospital, the smaller of the two facilities, has been struggling financially for years. And with $4.1 million in federal and state cuts coming in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, along with a sharp rise in free care and bad debt associated with unpaid medical bills, they say the merger offers a regional approach that delivers service.

“The long-term goal is sustainable health care for all our communities,” said Aprile, who will become senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Sanford facility on Jan. 1.

McGeachey, who will be president of Southern Maine Health Care, said the regional approach makes sense.

“It’s been my personal vision for 37 years,” he said. “It makes sense for Biddeford and Sanford. It strengthens and sustains excellent health care in York County.”

The two will lead a series of four forums in Sanford, Biddeford and Kennebunk over the next four weeks, beginning Thursday at Goodall Library in Sanford.

They stress both hospitals will continue to offer medical and surgical care, and maintain full-service emergency rooms. Mental health care will be expanded in Sanford, and the hospitals intend to invest in up-to-date facilities, technology and equipment.

Women delivering babies, though, will do so in Biddeford, though all pre- and post-natal care in place in Sanford will remain. That is because SMMC has a more up-to-date birthing suite; Aprile said Goodall Hospital just hasn’t had the resources to invest $3 million in upgrading its facility. And, she pointed out, there were 197 births at Goodall Hospital in 2012, about one every other day, while there were 541 in Biddeford. She also noted that the majority of mothers are already seeking care elsewhere: 25 percent at SMMC, 22 percent (considered high risk pregnancies) in Portland’s hospitals and 9 percent at York Hospital.

Surgery in Sanford will be offered from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. After-hours surgery will be performed at SMMC. That decision, along with consolidating births in Biddeford, will saved a projected $2.1 million.

Each hospital had also operated a sleep lab, which is now consolidated into one facility in Kennebunk, saving costs associated with leasing space.

Access to specialist care will be expanded in Sanford. A cardiologist is already providing services in Sanford, and other specialties, like pulmonary and neurology, are expected to be added.

Goodall Hospital employees have seen minimal raises since 2008 and none in the past two years, along with the erosion of benefits ”“ like the loss of one week’s paid leave. With the merger, they will see their salaries and benefits aligned with those of employees at the Biddeford facility.

As well, the Goodall name will live on. A medical office building constructed a few years ago will bear the name, acknowledging the importance of the connection to the community and the family that built the hospital in 1928.

McGeachey and Aprile said the hospitals face new financial challenges this coming year, including a $1.5 million cut due to federal sequestration, $1.6 million in what they describe as state MaineCare outpatient cuts, and $1 million in hospital tax.

Free care ”“ which is medical care not reimbursed by anyone or any agency ”“ and what is considered “bad debt” by those who receive bills but don’t pay them, is estimated by the hospital presidents at a total of $33 million next year. That’s up from $31.7 million between the two facilities, projected for this year, and $27.6 million in 2012.

Both say the coming changes are not expected to lead to widespread layoffs, though McGeachey said there may be some “tweaking.”

They noted that the closure of the birthing suite in Sanford affects seven nurses across both hospitals, but pointed out there are available nursing assignments in other hospital departments. The hospital presidents did said there are some positions in both hospitals that have been eliminated through attrition: 54 at SMMC and 38 at Goodall.

They also noted that they are working with York County Community Action Corporation to enhance transportation between the two facilities.

On Jan. 1, the merged hospitals, which will be called Southern Maine Health, will employ 2,500 people.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.