Last week, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems announced the promotion of Dr. Erik Steele from vice president for patient care services at Eastern Maine Medical Center to chief medical officer for EMHS. In his new role, Steele will bring a practicing physician's perspective to decisions made in the corporation's top administrative offices.

More specifically, Steele is charged with working with physicians and other health care providers at institutions throughout the expanding EMHS territory to develop and implement standardized treatment plans for all manner of medical conditions. In this capacity, he will sign off on the medical care delivered at Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Acadia Hospital, C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville, The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, Inland Hospital in Waterville, Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield and, if all goes according to plan, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital and perhaps other medical facilities not yet affiliated with EMHS.