To the Editor:

I am writing to express my frustration with the continuing pressure being applied by Mid Coast Hospital to close Parkview Adventist Medical Center.

Since the consolidation of the Bath and Brunswick hospitals in the early ’90s, the administration of Mid Coast has expressed its goal to have a monopoly on health care in this area, and to eliminate any competition.

That may be the WalMart way, but it is not the American way. I like having a choice, and I believe in the fundamental law of economics that competition is good for the consumer.

Many of my neighbors and friends have fond memories of Parkview. They say “I was born there, and my children were born there,” or tell of the care provided by the dedicated doctors and loving nurses who go a second mile to visit, spend time and even pray with their patients.

I see a lot of “Take me to Parkview” bumper stickers and think of the hundreds of lives that began at Parkview, or were extended by its emphasis on wellness and preventive medicine.

I have read the reports in the local papers and have heard both sides of the argument over the past 20 years.

Mid Coast has expanded and added more beds and services than needed, but blames Parkview — which was here first, and has served the community for over 50 years — for its 40 percent occupancy rate and duplication of services.

The fuzzy math that says it will save the community $24 million by closing more of the profitable services at Parkview does not factor in the loss of jobs, longer wait for services and increasing costs of health care.

I am thankful for the “big, older brother” assistance of Central Maine Health Care in offering ito keep Parkview open, and preventing Mid Coast from forcing its closure.

Tom Kohls
Brunswick