Central Maine Healthcare has seen 572 employees — nearly 20% of its workforce — leave the Lewiston-based health system in the five months since Prime Healthcare Foundation acquired it, the Sun Journal reported July 12.
Prime Healthcare Foundation — Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare’s nonprofit public charity — acquired Central Maine Healthcare on Feb. 16. Since then, the system has hired about 400 employees, bringing its total headcount to 2,748, according to the report.
Current and former employees told the news outlet the departures have strained staffing at CMH’s flagship Central Maine Medical Center, its two critical access hospitals and its outpatient practices. At least six OB-GYN physicians have left or given notice, and at least eight hospitalists have departed, including four Prime confirmed had voluntarily resigned. The system’s surgical and cardiology practice has lost nearly one-third of its physicians to resignations and relocations, according to the report. Internal emails cited by the Sun Journal also flagged critically low staffing in CMH’s histology lab and uncovered hospitalist shifts through August.
Prime received state approval to acquire the health system in November. As part of the deal, Prime agreed to invest $150 million into the system’s facilities over five years. Prime also said Central Maine Healthcare facilities would retain current leadership; however, Steve Littleson was replaced as Central Maine Healthcare’s president and CEO on Feb. 17, just a short time after the acquisition was finalized.
A Prime Healthcare spokesperson told Becker’s in a statement that the departures and additions at Central Maine Healthcare have resulted in an “overall turnover rate that remains below the nearly 20% national average for healthcare and consistent with historical and regional trends.”
“We continue to invest approximately $150 million to strengthen facilities, services, and infrastructure while leveraging the resources of a national health system to recruit and retain exceptional physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in support of Central Maine Healthcare’s long-term future,” the statement said.
Prime Healthcare Foundation operates 21 hospitals across eight states. Between its nonprofit and for-profit arms, Prime Healthcare operates 55 total hospitals in 15 states.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
