To the Editor:

For more than 40 years, I have been a proud resident of Brunswick. I grew up here and then moved back in the early 1990s to raise my three children

About a year ago, I left a position at Mid Coast Hospital to become chemo technician/ billing specialist for Parkview Adventist Medical Center.

During my time at Parkview, the dedicated staff and the focus of patient care have impressed me. I could go on for pages describing positive, patient-centered encounters I have seen. I will simply say that the staff at Parkview is exceptional and Brunswick is lucky to have such a group of professionals providing care.

Recently, there has been a lot of attention in the media about the Certificate of Need application submitted by Central Maine Healthcare. Most of the recent coverage of which I am aware discusses cost.

I would agree with those at Mid Coast that the residents of Brunswick should be provided the highest level of care at the lowest possible cost. It is my opinion that merging with Central Maine Healthcare will allow Parkview to do just that.

I’ve worked for small Maine companies like Benoit’s, Peoples Heritage and Cottle’s. I understand that by growing and partnering with others, you can provide the personal touches while saving money. Cottle’s is now Hannaford’s. People’s is now TD Bank. Hannaford’s is not the only grocery store in town, and Maine Street is filled with banks.

Competition is great. You can stand out without standing alone.

Mid Coast brought in Maine Center for Cancer Medicine to their campus in Brunswick. Portland Ortho was brought into the new Mid Coast hospital clinic on Maine Street. Why can Maine Medical Center intrude on the Brunswick area and CMHC is told to stay out?

In the end, it seems to me this all comes down to choice. These two hospitals have decided to take different paths, and the residents of Brunswick will choose where to spend their health care dollars.

I want choice and I don’t want Mid Coast hospital to chose it for me.

June A. Thomas
Brunswick