To the Editor:

In response to the editorial that appeared in The Times Record on Jan. 30, 2013 (“State must reject bid to ‘save’ Parkview”), sure, if Parkview is forced to close it “likely would drag the local economy with job cuts,” but, eh, no biggie if a few hundred people try to find new or different jobs in a job scarce economy.

I don’t see how Parkview’s continued existence is harming the community in the slightest. We both use the much larger hospitals, Maine Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center, when the need arises. Someone has to prove to me that Parkview’s existence is hurting anyone (any person or persons) other than merely depriving our competing health care business of a local monopoly much like The Times Record has for local news and opinion.

And, while we have “Mid Coast’s promise to cut $24 million in ‘duplicative services’,” there is no guarantee this “promise” will in fact be a reality if it becomes a monopoly.

It’s difficult not to be saddened by all the continuing and senseless attacks on Parkview Adventist Medical Center. I was born at Parkview and I’ve worked at that good hospital for over three decades.

It’s hard to be doing the best job that you can and still keep hearing, in essence, over and over again that Parkview doesn’t deserve to survive and Parkview should be ashamed for even existing.

In my opinion, we here at Parkview have nothing of which to be ashamed. Like any other business and service provider, Parkview has the right to survive and thrive if people of the community decide to choose us over Mid- Coast.

And since when was “pumping in more new investment from beyond the market area” a bad thing? Doesn’t the Brunswick area want new outside investment?

K. Baxter
Lisbon Falls