Mayo has no affiliation with Medical Publications. Further, Medical Publications may be using Mayo's name during phone solicitations or in printed material without the knowledge or permission of Mayo. They may also be using the names of other hospitals for which they do not have permission in an attempt to make their solicitation appear affiliated or endorsed by a hospital.

Please be advised that neither Mayo Regional Hospital nor the Maine Hospital Association endorses this activity.

Despite claims by the publisher, advertising in this publication in no way enhances a company's opportunity to win business with Mayo. If a company has any questions about an appeal made using the name of Mayo, they are encouraged to call the hospital's public relations office, at 564-4342, to determine if it is a legitimate appeal.

This is the second time in recent months that a business has attempted to use the name of a hospital without the hospital's permission.

The so-called Healing Hands Busy Book was an unauthorized solicitation targeted at local businesses in mid-coast and down east Maine last summer and fall. The purpose of that solicitation was for the local business to buy books for children in local hospitals. Businesses who were solicited called their local hospital to determine if the appeal was legitimate and found out that it was not associated with or supported by the hospital nor were books ever delivered to the hospital.

"It is unfortunate that businesses would use the good will that exists in a community toward their local hospital to solicit funds from the local business community for their own purposes," said Mark Ishkanian, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Maine Hospital Association. "If anyone is solicited on behalf of a hospital and has questions about the legitimacy of the solicitation, they should not hesitate to call the hospital directly before making a decision."