Over the Christmas holiday we watched the timeless movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” We were struck by the similarities and the differences in what has happened in our community and that of the small town of Bedford Falls. Perhaps you, too, watched the movie. Did it strike a note in your mind?

George Bailey, who runs the local building and loan founded by his father, develops affordable housing for the working poor in town. The movie is about George’s struggle to operate a “nonprofit” and keep it afloat. A local banker, Henry Potter, is on the building and loan board and also in real estate. He attempts to convince the other directors on the building and loan board to stop providing loans to the working poor. The board, however, decides to continue lending money to the people but with certain conditions to protect the building and loan.

As you know, money turns up missing and the building and loan is faced with having to replace it or be closed by the bank examiners. (It is believed that Potter kept the money from the people of the town.) When the people in the town hear of George’s business plight, they rally to raise the money needed to save the building and loan. They remember all the good things George and the building and loan had done for them. The regulator watched these developments but did not act to close the business until he had all the facts. George did not have to jump off the bridge after all.

The similarities

Dr. Gregory: A benevolent man who wanted to insure local access to healthcare for the Boothbay Region residents is our George Bailey Sr.

MaineHealth/Lincoln County Healthcare: Nonprofit corporations, whose primary goal was profit for MaineHealth is our Mr. Potter.

Original St. Andrews Board and CEO: Comprised of Boothbay Region residents whose goal was to carry out Dr. Gregory’s wish of ensuring local healthcare at St. Andrews Hospital. This board signed the original definitive agreement with MaineHealth, inserting specific conditions to ensure the future survival of St. Andrews Hospital.

The town: When local people discovered by word-of-mouth that the hospital was being closed, many recounted stories of wonderful care for loved ones, rallied to save the hospital and raised money to save St. Andrews, while MaineHealth remained silent, waiting.

The differences

Mr. Potter could not convince the local board to do what he wanted because they trusted George Bailey. Suppose Mr. Potter contrived a new scheme to install a board with his employees to run the building and loan and Potter Construction, not to mention installing a new CEO who had been his employee rather than allowing George to continue to run the business even though George applied for the job.

The Bedford Falls people were given an opportunity to save the building and loan before it was closed as the regulator waited until his review was complete to take action. Had Maine State Regulators been watching what was happening here, as far back as 2008, MaineHealth might not have been able to close St. Andrews. The people were denied due process not only once but twice.

Finally, on December 17, 2013, our chance to be heard came. The department of Health and Human Services sent one regulator from their Certificate of Need Unit to take testimony in the Boothbay region. He heard facts about 90-year-old people sitting in hallways for many hours waiting for a hospital bed and people being shuffled miles from home in every direction far away from their loved ones, at a time of year when families come together, and not just because our hospital was closed, but because there were many needed beds eliminated at Miles Hospital for one reason only: critical access hospital money.

In Bedford Falls, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. Listen for the bells in Boothbay Harbor.

Our voices have been heard. If you want to make yours heard, you have until January 22 to send your testimony to Larry Carbonneau at DHHS, Licensing and Regulatory Services, CONU, State House Station #11, 41 Anthony Avenue, Augusta, ME 04333. Or email larry.carbonneau@maine.gov.