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W O R K F O R M E / S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 18 P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F N O R T H E R N L I G H T H E A L T H H ealth care systems throughout the na- tion are in a make- or-break moment as they combat soaring costs of labor, drugs and supplies against Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements that are not keeping pace with op- erational costs, according to the American Hospital Association. The financial burden com- bined with understaffed work- forces has created a perfect storm, especially for rural hospi- tals who already must take extra measures to attract new talent to Maine's low population areas. The reality of these circum- stances is demonstrated by the recent closure of Northern Light Health's Inland Hospital in Wa- terville after its operating losses of $1 million to $1.5 million per month became unsustainable. The Waterville hospital cited a tight labor market as a factor. In an effort to attract top talent to rural areas, hospital systems are deviating from tra- ditional hiring methods and of- fering creative perks and oppor- tunities to increase recruitment and hold on to staff. Maine's rural areas lack the medical resources of their urban coun- terparts, so top-tier workers are essential in providing life-saving care to residents. Catharine MacLaren, vice president of talent and diversity for Northern Light Health, out- lined that some of the staffing shortages in rural areas come M A I N E R U R A L H O S P I TA L FA C T S : J O B S : Rural hospitals provide 8,600 jobs and are among the top 5 largest employers in 8 of 9 Rural counties. E C O N O M I C I M PACT : Rural hospitals generate $1.6 billion in economic activity in rural Maine. LO S S E S : Rural hospitals collectively lost $20 million over the past five years. Eight hospitals in Maine have sustained losses for five consecutive years; seven of them are in rural Maine. R E D U C E D VO L U M E : The number of surgeries, newborn deliveries and emergency visits have all declined in rural hospitals. PAY E R M I X : Rural hospitals are more reliant on government payers and have fewer commercial patients than in the rest of Maine. U N C O M P E N S AT E D C A R E : Rural hospitals provide $70 million in uncompensated care each year. TA X : Rural hospitals lose more than $8 million on the hospital tax each year. S O U R C E : "The Improving Rural Healthcare Act", Maine Hospital Association, 2025 RECRUIT and RETAIN Rural hospitals' creative strategies to secure talent B Y S L O A N E M . P E R R O N Attracting talent to rural hospitals is vital to sustaining care in Maine's communities. These positions account for over 8,600 jobs across rural regions of the state. W o r k f o r c e