Opinion: Elegy for rural community hospitals

In a pattern being repeated across the country, the Boothbay, Maine peninsula's hospital has been shuttered, and the communities just lost their bid to even have a 24 hour urgent care on the peninsula. Citing financial need—which has been disputed—Lincoln County Healthcare (LCH), part of MaineHealth, closed St. Andrews Hospital, a critical access hospital (CAH), transferring that valuable designation to Miles Hospital in Damariscotta. This has left the entire county, with the oldest population in Maine, with only 25 beds (down from 63) and limited services, though the population surges to more than 40,000 in tourist season.