Mount Desert Island Hospital President/CEO Arthur J. Blank was installed as chairman of the Maine Hospital Association (MHA) Board of Directors at the organization’s summer meeting on June 20.
Being actively engaged will help ensure community hospitals such as MDI Hospital have a voice in shaping health care policy at the state and federal levels. “Working directly with lawmakers and industry leaders gives us the opportunity to keep the issues that impact our community and others like it in the forefront,” he said.
In addition to serving as President of MDI Hospital, Blank has been an active member of many Mount Desert Island community organizations for nearly 20 years including the MDI Rotary Club, United Way and the MDI YMCA where he serves on the board of directors.
Concurrently with his service to the greater MDI community, Blank is a founding board member of HealthInfoNet, Maine’s groundbreaking statewide health information exchange, and a member of the American Hospital Association’s Committee on Research.
The MHA represents 39 community-governed hospitals in Maine and is an advocate for hospitals in the state legislature, U.S. Congress, and state and federal regulatory agencies. It also provides educational services and serves as a clearinghouse for comprehensive information for its hospital members, lawmakers and the public. The MHA is a leader in developing health care policy and works to stimulate public debate on important health care issues that affect all of Maine’s citizens.
Prior to accepting the chair of the MHA board, Blank served as board treasurer and chair of the organization’s Quality Council that is charged with analyzing health care quality and patient safety issues affecting hospitals. Blank’s commitment to quality health care in his community is evident in his advocacy activity and various member roles.
Joining Blank on the MHA board are Charlie Therrien, president/CEO of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital; R. David Frum, president of Bridgton and Rumford hospitals; and William Caron, president and CEO of MaineHealth. Board leadership members include Michelle Hood, CEO of Eastern Maine Health Systems; Rebecca Ryder, president/CEO of Franklin Memorial Hospital; and James Donovan, president/CEO of Lincoln County Healthcare.