Doug Jones, who led Down East Community Hospital in Machias through a turbulent period following the death of a patient, has resigned as chief executive officer. Jones was named interim CEO after the state placed the hospital into receivership in 2009 and under the emergency control of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, oversight that ultimately lasted two years. DECH had been plagued by a lack of community confidence and state violations, which peaked with the death of patient Reid Emery more than six years ago.

Jones resigns as CEO of Down East Community Hospital

Other top health stories this week:

Sweetser to close Brunswick mental health facility

Sweetser officials blamed the imminent closure of its Learning and Recovery Center, where adults with behavioral health problems seek treatment and camaraderie, on a lack of additional funding from the state Department of Health and Human Services. Department officials countered that they couldn’t justify spending more on the facility, in part, without seeking competing bids for the services.

Maine music therapist promotes healing effects of the creative arts

Kate Beever’s on a mission to boost awareness of the creative arts — from music to dance to painting — not only among patients, but also fellow health care professionals. Misconceptions about arts therapies abound, but the techniques have gained wider acceptance in recent years, Beever said.

From our bloggers 

Sarah Devlin, On the Plus Side

Another voice in the UCSB conversation

This post isn’t about diet and exercise. A woman is judged for what she wears because we live in a world where it’s okay for men to touch and grope and push, a world where it’s okay to assume a short skirt means slut.

Diane Atwood, Catching Health

Antibiotics and Ear Infections

For years, no matter what the cause, ear infections in children were routinely treated with antibiotics, but the recommendation has changed.