The vote of no confidence in the CEO of Central Maine Health Care by the medical staff was no surprise to me. For over a generation, the relationship between staff and administration has been degenerating. I fully concur with the observations in Dr. Gregory D’Augustine’s letter of Aug. 5.

As a past medical staff president and board member at Central Maine Medical Center, I have personally observed the diminution of physician input in the making of hospital policies. I have also witnessed the loss of some very good doctors from the community because of administrative decisions.

The  vote was not solely precipitated by concerns regarding pay and benefits. It was more likely the result of administration influencing patient care, i.e., corporate medicine. A physician’s first loyalty is to quality patient care.

The “no confidence” vote should be a wake-up call for the community. The hospital board of directors, doctors and citizens should work together to put CMMC back on track. Administrators and providers should develop health policy decisions together. The community and patients should be made more aware by having more frequent communication from CMMC and Central Maine Health Care.

In my many years of practice at CMMC, I was delighted to see the institution grow and improve. CMMC provides quality up-to-date modern health care services dedicated to all. The community deserves nothing less.

I hope we can get over this setback and move on with pride.

Frederick Holler, Auburn

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