Cambridge Memorial Hospital's management team spent Tuesday afternoon at a local mall talking to the public, all in an effort to revive its reputation.
The move comes after a year of controversy for the hospital, including an $11-million deficit and massive cutbacks, plus an overhaul of the institution's leadership.
Patrick Gaskin, the new president and CEO of Cambridge Memorial, says the hospital is now on more solid financial footing, and he wants public input on the hospital's future.
"We're committed to an open and transparent process, and that has been the way we operate, and so this is just evidence of the way we like to function," Gaskin says.
They are also hoping to get new ideas from the public, by conducting surveys on how those who use the facility feel the hospital should be run.
Cambridge resident Donald McCubbin is somewhat skeptical, "It's too bad it didn't happen ten years ago, when we really needed it."
But others like Jessica Fowler are more positive about the move "I think it's an excellent way forward for the hospital, especially if they've had some obstacles in the past, to be able to move forward with the input from the community."
While reaction to the public outreach seemed generally upbeat, some big questions, like the timing for the hospital's expansion, continue to go unanswered.
