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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U LY 8 , 2 0 2 4 From the Editor M aine is having a surge of investment in its hospitals. Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber looks at hospital expansion and renovation projects in Bar Harbor, Calais, Islesboro and Eastport, as well as Portland. See "Healthy health care," which starts on Page 18. Despite the wave of hospital expansion, the gap between rural and more urban hospitals continues to pose challenges. As the head of operations for LifeFlight told Senior Writer Renee Cordes, "the rural places are really rural." Some long-running programs and safeguards for rural areas have expired, creating "care deserts" in some areas. Hospitals are, by neces- sity, finding new ways to innovate, and that is part of Renee's story. See our cover story, "Emergency treat- ments," which starts on Page 10. In some respects, travel nurses has been a bless- ing and a burden for hospitals. Travel nurses, who are typically on contract for up to three months, helped shore up staffing during the pandemic. But they also created an additional cost for hospitals. In 2019, hospitals allotted 4.7% of their nursing labor expenses to travel nurses; by 2022, that figure was 38.6%. Today, hospitals are doing their best to recruit and retain permanent staff nurses. And at least one nurse staff writer Alexis Wells spoke with was glad to get a permanent job and put her "traveling" days behind her. See "Life support," which starts on Page 15. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Catch up on the latest business news in Maine by subscribing to the Daily Report and Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is the top content from June 18 to July 2: 1. WEX to lay off 375 employees worldwide, becoming latest Maine employer to downsize 2. Covetrus lays off some employees in restructuring 3. Affordable senior housing development opens in Scarborough 4. Portland law firm Preti Flaherty unveils renovated HQ space 5. $2.8M industrial space in Kennebec County aims to serve mid-size contractors 6. Buxton woman sentenced to year in prison for stealing from employer 7. Ralph Lauren's Team USA ceremonial outfit gets some help from Maine manufacturers 8. Jackson Lab proposes $33M Bar Harbor expansion aimed at study of rare diseases 9. Fourth-generation spinning operation sells Springvale mill to NH developer 10. Making the grade: Small but mighty foundation opens college doors for growing number of Mainers P H O T O / R E N E E C O R D E S 1 Despite the wave of hospital expansion, the gap between rural and more urban hospitals continues to pose challenges. bernsteinshur.com Meet Molly. Employee benefits pro with a passion for healthcare policy, Molly offers her clients a comprehensive understanding of the intricate legal and regulatory issues impacting healthcare providers. We're attorneys. But we're people first. Molly Barker Gilligan, Attorney and Shareholder Hospitals are investing in Maine, but challenges remain

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