By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

As he started work to rebuild services and repair the community’s trust in Bridgton Hospital, Peter Wright was realistic.

He knew it would not be a sprint.

Instead, the first-year hospital president is prepared for a marathon.

“We’re moving forward,” Wright said in his opening remarks during a “State of the Hospital” meeting held at Lake Region High School. “We are making progress.”

Following the presentation of colors by Curtis Merrill, Steve Smith, Cathy Merrill, Robert Shaw and Dennis Green of American Legion Post 155 in Naples, and the singing of the “National Anthem” by LRHS choral director Eugene Long, Wright told residents and hospital staff in attendance he was “keeping my promise” to update what has transpired since his arrival in late April and what is in store in the near and distant future.

“We’re a community hospital. We don’t exist without you. We are here to serve you,” Wright said.

Part 1 of the State of BH address focused on the “year in review.” Wright pointed out that Bridgton Hospital continues to be recognized for its “quality,” which is driven by a committed workforce that has rallied during the recent difficult times, showing “resilience, resolve, determination and staying focused.”

“They are the ones that make it possible. Quality is job one,” he said. “It’s been a challenging year. The first six months (for me) were tough, but what was a joy each day was working with the committed people who stayed here. We weathered the storm, and never lost sight of what was most important — our patients.”

The “positives” included industry recognition for quality, gains in revenue, filling positions and national exposure regarding the “heartwarming story” of nurse Sarah Kapinos, who plays violin for patients. A colleague of Wright called one day asking “why is your nurse on my TV?”

“The response has been unbelievable,” Wright said.

Admittedly, the most pressing issue is improving access to primary care. While 118 new hires have occurred across the Central Maine Healthcare landscape, physician recruitment is still an issue. A study earlier this year projected that Maine is the Number 18 state (Wyoming is at the top) in danger of having a doctor shortage in the years to come. The rankings were based on three factors with higher rankings equating to increased risk of a doctor shortage in the near future:

• Number of doctors in each state: Maine has 324.5 doctors per 100,000 people – ranking 8th

• Percentage of doctors nearing the age of retirement: In Maine, 34.6% of doctors are nearing retirement – ranking 47th

• Medical residents nearing the end of their education: In Maine, 25.1 residents per 100,000 people are about to enter the workforce as doctors – ranking 36th

Wright pointed out that there is a shortage of physicians coming out of schools, and of those new doctors, a small percentage are interested in primary care (6 to 8%) and fewer are targeting rural communities (4 to 5%). Recruitment, he said, will continue. Four doctors have been hired and will join the staff in the coming months.

Another success has been the establishment of Urgent Care at the North Bridgton practice office, which Wright summed up as “the right care, at the right place, at the right time.” Wright noted that BH has 12,500 emergency room visits each year, and up to 40 percent really should be using the walk-in clinic that can provide quicker and less expensive care (a clinic visit’s average cost is $200, compared to $1,000 if one uses the emergency department).

The financial picture is improving, Wright added. Net revenue rose by $1.2 million to $12.3 million compared to the first quarter of last year.

Wright thanked the public for welcoming him to the community, and for helping the institution to “weather the storm with us.”

“We are grateful for your business. We are grateful for your trust,” he said.

As for the future, Wright sees a move toward maintaining one’s health and thus requiring less care, as well as the focus on clinics and use of technology. Task forces have been created to study ways to treat chronic illnesses such as substance abuse.

There could also be physical changes to the 80-acre hospital campus. Expansion of the current hospital by adding medical office space (two floors) off the existing outpatient wing is one idea, as well as building a “senior living” complex that would include residences for both assisted and independent living. It would be located where the old hospital currently is situated.

When will these projects occur?

“I don’t know. We’re in the process of master facilities planning for Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals,” Wright said.

Part of the “rebuild” has been looking outside of the box, even on the smallest of fronts. With volunteers dwindling to staff the popular Twitchell Café, hospital officials hope to turn the café into a proving ground for Lake Region Vocational Center culinary art students, who would be responsible for ordering, planning and serving. (Note: if you are interested in volunteering at the café, call 647-6210, they need to cover three hours for breakfast and three hours for lunch.)

In closing, Wright emphasized improving Bridgton Hospital is a “process.”

“It (the problems) didn’t happen overnight. It won’t be fixed overnight,” he said.

Bridgton resident Ursula Flaherty said she and others moved on to other hospitals when they lost their primary care physicians at Bridgton Hospital. She added, it will take time to rebuild people’s trust to seek out medical services locally.

“I’d like to use the hospital, but I’m not sure that it can serve me,” she said. “I want a hospital that is really good again.”

Wright appreciated Flaherty’s honest comments.

He knows there are still many bridges to repair.

Wright truly believes Bridgton Hospital is on the right path to recovery — but it will be a marathon, not a sprint to get to where the facility needs to be, both in terms of current needs and expectations, as well as future services.