Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

About CMH

System Outage

CMH hospitals and physician practices are back online.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, our Emergency Department is open, or call 911.

For the most updated information see below: 

A message to our community

JUNE 30, 2025

Dear patients and friends of Central Maine Healthcare,

I am pleased to share that our systems have been fully restored following the recent system outage. I know this disruption affected many of you, and I am deeply grateful for your patience and understanding.

I fully acknowledge that this event created difficulty for many of our patients and families. The interruption of access to your care team, the patient portal, appointment scheduling, obtaining prescriptions and lack of normal communication was frustrating, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and distress it may have caused. 

Not being able to reach you—and you not being able to reach us—were among the hardest aspects of the outage. We missed speaking with you, hearing from you and supporting you in real time. If you visited us in person at Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital, Rumford Hospital or one of our physician practices—thank you. If you connected with us through social media or our temporary website, thank you for staying engaged.

From the moment the outage was detected, our information technology teams—alongside national cybersecurity experts—acted swiftly to contain and assess the situation and begin the process of analysis and secure restoration.

The dedication of our team members and caregivers never wavered. Our doctors, nurses and clinical teams moved quickly—relying on tireless coordination—to ensure you and your family continued to receive the compassionate, high-quality care you deserve. Our emergency departments and physician practices were as busy as ever, and we remained focused on delivering care despite the circumstances.

We also heard from clinicians who found moments of meaning and connection without the computer screens of doctor’s offices—an unexpected silver lining. Some recalled a time when paper systems were standard and shared that knowledge with younger colleagues. But while there was a touch of nostalgia, it was also a difficult path. Our caregivers deserve special thanks for their adaptability,  resilience and  unwavering dedication to patients.

In addition to all of you, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our 3,200 team members—especially our information technology team—that worked around the clock to restore hundreds of servers and thousands of workstations.

We have emerged a stronger, more secure health system. We are more connected and more committed than ever to taking care of you—whether on paper or online, it’s truly the people that matter most.

Thank you,

Steve Littleson
President and CEO
Central Maine Healthcare

A message to our cancer patients receiving radiation therapy

At the Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center, our state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators deliver radiation therapy with speed, precision and advanced technology—targeting tumors effectively while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This leading-edge equipment depends on sophisticated computer systems to operate with accuracy, safety and reliability. We know that the Cancer Care…

Read more… A message to our cancer patients receiving radiation therapy

A message to our patients about the “Contact Us” form

We continue to restore normal operations following our recent system outage. With most of our practices and locations now fully reachable by phone, we are retiring the “Contact Us” form from our temporary website. Nearly 600 patients used the form to schedule or reschedule appointments, request prescription refills, and get assistance during the outage —…

Read more… A message to our patients about the “Contact Us” form

A message from Central Maine Healthcare about phone calls from our team members 

Our information technology teams are moving swiftly toward full restoration of our systems and schedules. Patients may receive phone calls from our team. These calls are an important part of reconnecting with you—whether it’s to confirm a routine appointment, discuss lab or imaging results, or reschedule an elective surgery. Our team may ask you to confirm information, like your full name, date…

Read more… A message from Central Maine Healthcare about phone calls from our team members 

A message from Michael Berlowitz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Chief of the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute

Since the system outage on June 1, our physician and clinical teams have remained fully committed to providing safe, high-quality care for our communities. We quickly activated our established downtime procedures, shifting from computer to paper systems, ensuring patient care continued with minimal interruption.  Many of us remember well the days of paper charts and few…

Read more… A message from Michael Berlowitz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Chief of the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute

A message for all Central Maine Healthcare patients about appointments and medical records  

Text and email reminders for appointmentsWe cannot currently send email or text reminders to patients. In some cases, we have been able to find schedules and call patients to remind them of appointments, but this varies by location and day. If you are on the myHealthlink patient portal, your appointments will be visible there. Once…

Read more… A message for all Central Maine Healthcare patients about appointments and medical records  

Update on system outage at Central Maine Healthcare

Team members at Central Maine Healthcare are working tirelessly to restore systems and have made significant progress since the outage began early last week.   Many phone lines have been restored, with 12 more added today. We are able to accept patient calls at Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital and primary care practices, all of which…

Read more… Update on system outage at Central Maine Healthcare

Central Maine Healthcare is experiencing a disruption to our computer and phone systems. We are actively working on a resolution.

On June 1, 2025, technicians monitoring the information systems at Central Maine Healthcare identified unusual activity within the system’s computer software. In response, they immediately secured and shut off all information technology applications and hardware, including network servers and phone systems. Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital are receiving and treating patients,…

Read more… Central Maine Healthcare is experiencing a disruption to our computer and phone systems. We are actively working on a resolution.

Michelle Kap, MS, RN

Michelle Kap

Michelle Kap, MS, RN, is the chief nursing officer of Central Maine Healthcare.

Michelle brings extensive leadership experience to this position, having previously served as senior vice president of clinical operations at Steward Health Care in Massachusetts. She also served in a leadership role at Beth Isreal Hospital in Massachusetts. Prior to that, Michelle was a nurse practitioner at Hartford Hospital.

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester with a focus on critical care.

She has been visiting Maine since she was a small child and says she is glad to now be living and working here full-time.

Michael Berlowitz, MD

Michael Berlowitz

Michael Berlowitz, MD, is the chief medical officer for Central Maine Healthcare. Beginning in 2021, Dr. Berlowitz provided exceptional leadership as chief of Central Maine Heart & Vascular Institute (CMHVI). He will continue to lead CMHVI.

Before joining CMH, Dr. Berlowitz served as chief of clinical operations for the University of South Florida’s cardiovascular service line.

He holds an MBA from Auburn University Harbert College of Business, specializing in operations and organizational behavior. He has also earned certificates in strategic healthcare leadership from Cornell University and patient safety and quality from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Dr. Berlowitz is also the author of numerous healthcare publications and book chapters and taught the business of medicine at the USF Muma College of Business.

Betsey Shew, Esq. CPHQ, CHC

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Betsey Shew, Esq. CPHQ, CHC, is Central Maine Healthcare’s vice president of legal affairs and oversees the health system’s Legal, Compliance and Risk departments.

Ms. Shew joined CMH in 2020 as senior associate general counsel and chief compliance officer before her promotion to vice president.

She brings to the health system more than two decades of healthcare experience, including extensive work in quality, risk management and compliance. She began her healthcare career as a registered dietitian.

Ms. Shew previously worked as system director of risk and legal services at Tewksbury, Mass.-based Covenant Health and as director of performance improvement at both St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston and Inland Hospital in Waterville.

A native of Midcoast Maine, Ms. Shew returned to the state after earning her juris doctorate from Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. She received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York state after working as a chef.

David Paulosky, CPA, MBA

Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer

David Paulosky, CPA, MBA, is the chief financial officer for Central Maine Healthcare.

David is a very accomplished and seasoned CFO, having served most of his career in the for-profit health system sector.

He is very operationally focused and accustomed to driving performance to meet best practice metrics. Before joining Central Maine Healthcare, he was with Conemaugh Health System, a 550 bed, four hospital system in Johnstown, Pennsylvania as Duke LifePoint Market Chief Financial Officer.

David has a B.A. of Accounting from King’s College and a Master’s in Business Administration, Finance from Philadelphia University. David and his wife Jennifer— who is originally from Portland–have a home in Lincolnville, Maine and two grown daughters. David said, “Maine is like coming home to us after sharing so much family time in Lincolnville. We are excited to be returning permanently.”

Richard Kropp, EdD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Senior vice president at Central Maine Healthcare and the organization’s chief people officer

Richard is an executive, educator and consultant with more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare, finance, high tech, not for profit and education sectors.

Before joining us at CMH, he served as chief human resources officer for MorseLife Health System in West Palm Beach, Florida.

He has a doctorate in Humanistic Psychology and a master’s degree in Human Resource Education from Boston University, a master’s degree in Human Resources from the Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

”The role of the chief people officer is to lead the human resource function for the system,” Richard said. “But unlike traditional ‘titles’ for the role, this  title truly articulates our focus on our team members. My wife, Kristen, and I are delighted to join the Central Maine Healthcare team and look forward to serving our team members, patients and the community.”

Kara Aleixo Johnson, JD

Senior Vice President of Business and Community Development

Kara Aleixo Johnson, JD joined Central Maine Healthcare in 2020 and is the health system’s senior vice president of business and community development, responsible for business development, corporate communications, marketing, philanthropy, community outreach and political advocacy. A healthcare leader for over fifteen years, Ms. Johnson held previous roles in business development and philanthropy and was senior director of development at Mid-Coast Parkview Health in Brunswick. She has also owned a business development consulting firm, held leadership roles in other business enterprises, and practiced law primarily in real estate and litigation.

Kara earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and political science from Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., and her law degree from Suffolk University School of Law in Boston.

She has served on the boards of local organizations, including The Gathering Place and Maine Paws for Veterans. Kara is a corporator of Mid Coast Hospital and has served on the board of trustees for Mid Coast-Parkview Health.

A native of the Boston area, Kara has resided in the Brunswick, Maine, region for about 25 years with her husband and four grown children, where she is an active community member.

Stephany Jacques, RN, MSN, OCN

President of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital

Stephany Jacques is the president of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital. A native of Dixfield, Stephany has been with Central Maine Healthcare for more than 15 years.

She began her career at Rumford Hospital in the operating room as an OR nurse before taking on the role of practice manager at Rumford Hospital and Bridgton Hospital for Oncology and Specialty Clinics. She was promoted to regional director of primary care practices and specialty clinics at Rumford and Bridgton Hospital. Before being named interim president, she worked as the vice president of Nursing and Patient Care Services for Rumford Hospital. Stephany holds degrees from the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions and the University of Maine at Fort Kent, as well as a master’s degree in Nursing Education from Western Governor’s University. Stephany is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Stephany and her husband, Corey, have lived in Peru for 20 years and have two children.

Kip Webb, MD, MPH

Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare

Healthcare Leader, Lecturer

Dr. Kip Webb has been successful in leading healthcare reform as a pediatrician, professor and business leader. He is a highly sought-after public speaker who has been asked to present on myriad topics, including healthcare reform, consumerism, digital innovation, social determinants of health and clinician burnout.

Dr. Webb became an assistant professor at Stanford University Medical School while still in his twenties and was named “Teacher of the Year”. He later joined the faculty of Tufts University Medical School, and his academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Pediatrics.

Dr. Webb was recruited to be managing director at Accenture, an IT services company, where he was selected one of the firm’s “Top 30 Leaders.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Biology at Amherst College, his Doctor of Medicine at Cornell University and his Master of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts. Kip lives in San Francisco with his family.

Steven G. Littleson, DBA

President and CEO, Central Maine Healthcare, President, Central Maine Medical Center

Steven G. Littleson, DBA, is Central Maine Healthcare’s president and CEO and President, Central Maine Medical Center.

Dr. Littleson joined CMH in 2020 after serving as regional president of Jefferson Health in Philadelphia.  Prior to that position, he served as president, hospitals division for Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. He has held senior roles at Meridian Health and Southern Ocean County Hospital, both in New Jersey, as well as at Sentara Healthcare in Virginia.

Dr. Littleson served as an officer and chairman of the boards of the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals. He has served on the boards of numerous community service organizations including Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Rotary International, the American Red Cross, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and he has been a regular guest lecturer for the Peking University Executive MBA program in Beijing, China.  Locally, he serves on the board of the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Hospital Association.

Dr. Littleson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Gettysburg College, his Master of Health Administration from Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University and his Doctor of Business Administration from Walden University.