Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare is looking for its fifth new board member in recent months after a longtime leader of the system's Bridgton (Maine) Hospital resigned abruptly, according to the Sun Journal.
Philip Libby, a 25-year veteran of Bridgton's board who joined the entire system's board about a year ago, suddenly resigned April 17. Mr. Libby said his resignation, which was effective immediately, came after he grew concerned about his "personal liability … as a director. I was not and have not been happy with the direction that the organization has been taking."
Mr. Libby's resignation comes amid several months of turmoil at CMHC. In summer 2018, members of the medical staff at the system's three hospitals voted no confidence in CEO Jeff Brickman. A day after CMHC's board voted to retain Mr. Brickman as CEO, the president of Bridgton and Rumford (Maine) Hospital resigned. CMHC said in August 2018 that 27 percent of its physicians had left over the past year due to disagreements with leadership.
In response to Mr. Libby's resignation, CMHC leaders said they appreciated his service to the board, but did not understand why he resigned. Peter Wright, the new president of Bridgton and Rumford hospitals, told the Sun Journal Mr. Libby "hasn't attended any meeting I've been at nor engaged with me outside of a brief interaction ... I think it's fair to say he certainly hasn't given me a chance. I don't think he's given the system a chance as of recently."