AUGUSTA — MaineGeneral Medical Center has been cited for alleged commercial vehicle infractions involving what it terms an “internal use” vehicle.
The hospital’s attorney, Marci Alexander, denied the charges last week during a hearing at the Capital Judicial Center, and the case is set for a disposition conference in July.
The citations were issued by Trooper Bernard Campbell, of the Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Division, and alleges in one count that the hospital failed to investigate a driver’s background and in three separate counts failure to require drivers to provide driver/vehicle inspection reports.
The former charge carries a maximum penalty of $6,240, and each of the latter charges a penalty of $700.
“The whole question is whether or not the hospital is subject to federal regulations regarding certain vehicles that they use,” said District Attorney Maeghan Maloney, whose office is prosecuting the case. “Do federal regulations that apply to these vehicles apply to them?”
She added, “We are still very much in the beginning of the case.”
Both the hospital and Maloney indicated that the infractions charge did not involve the valet parking service at the hospital.
Maloney said some paperwork in the case indicated the vehicle was used to transport people between the back parking lot and the hospital and possibly delivers supplies to nursing homes.
Tim Plossay, director of materials management at MaineGeneral, said via email that the issue “relates to one of our internal use vehicles (we do not use this vehicle for the public).”
He also said, “Our request for a hearing is routine. We made the request for a hearing to get some time to talk with the state to get some clarity about the specific rules that apply to that one vehicle. We are committed to compliance.”
The vehicle cited was listed as being at Medical Center Parkway, the site of MaineGeneral Medical Center’s hospital that opened in November 2013 in north Augusta.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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