Northern Light Health Announces Changes to Support Long-Term Strategy

Date: 09/03/2025

Reduction in Force Part of Financial Improvement Plan to Continue Serving Patients Now and for Generations to Come

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brewer, ME (September 3, 2025) —Today, Northern Light Health announced organization-wide changes, resulting from work that began earlier this summer, to better align with industry standards in support of patient care and financial stability.

“This is difficult but very necessary work,” said Paul Bolin, executive vice president and chief people and administrative officer, Northern Light Health.  “We have been transparent about the challenges we are facing around rising costs, low reimbursements and denials from payers, and more. It is imperative we work differently to ensure our ability to sustain our mission of caring for years to come.” 

The changes announced today include workforce reductions of approximately 3%, with more than two-thirds of the reduction made up of attrition, including retirements. Reductions include roles throughout the organization at all levels, including senior leadership. While affected roles are primarily in non-clinical areas, some patient-care roles are included as part of care delivery model changes to support sustainability of critical services. All affected employees will be offered severance, career guidance and counseling, and other support. Those affected will also be eligible to apply for other open roles within Northern Light Health. “We have been very successful in the past in helping displaced employees find other suitable work within Northern Light Health, and we expect that to also be the case in this situation,” said Bolin.

For the past year, Northern Light Health leaders have worked with staff and industry experts to determine the best path forward in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry. “Hospitals and healthcare providers across Maine are facing a perfect storm, and these challenges are especially acute in rural areas, where small hospitals and clinics struggle to remain viable and meet the needs of our aging, remote populations,” adds Jay Reynolds, MD, senior vice president, Northern Light Health, president Northern Light AR Gould Hospital and Northern Light Medical Group. The workforce changes are one part of a broader plan to evolve how Northern Light Health delivers clinical services into the future.

“This is the continuation of a significant push to work together as one team to identify and make changes based on our organization’s strategic priorities and a sustainable path forward. Making these changes is a difficult but necessary part of that path, and this work is not taken lightly. We respect and care for all of our workforce, and we will work hard to assist those affected through this. We are taking these actions, and many others, to ensure we can continue to meet our mission for the communities that depend on us for care,” said Bolin.