Hannon seeks solutions to challenges facing rural hospitals

    DOVER-FOXCROFT— Whether it’s behind the desk of his former job in Marion, N.C. or in his current position in Dover-Foxcroft, Mayo Regional Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Ed Hannon faces the same dilemma that has challenged the U.S. medical industry for three decades: finding enough qualified physicians to serve rural practices.

    NEW CHIEF — Mayo Regional Hospital Chief Executive Ed Hannon has a conversation on Jan. 10 with Mayo volunteer Ruth Nason. Hannon was hired last July to succeed Ralph Gabarro in overseeing the Mayo health care operation.

    Hannon has spent 20 years serving as an executive in the medical field.

    He believes the challenge of finding doctors willing to serve rural populations continues to be the major issue facing health care administrators.

    “There is a shortage of qualified physicians,” Hannon said. “And in a climate like Dover-Foxcroft’s, it’s even more of a challenge to find those who like the rural lifestyle and the long winters.”

    Hannon has spent the past two decades serving in various hospital executive positions around the country.

    The challenge of finding qualified physicians has seemingly become greater over the years.

    Hannon, who previously served as the CEO of McDowell Hospital in Marion, N.C., took the Mayo job because he thought the area was a great place to live and work.

    “I was looking for a lifestyle change and I think this area provides a good balance between one’s personal and professional life,” Hannon said. “Mayo is a great place to work. It has strong roots in the community. That is why it’s an attractive place for me to work and I’m sure we’ll be able to recruit physicians who also value what this area has to offer.”

    Hannon plans on working both inside and outside of the hospital to recruit more doctors to the region.

    He will discuss with his current staff about their knowledge of possible colleagues around the country interested in working at Mayo.

    He will also continue the hospital’s efforts working with the Maine Hospital Association and Maine Medical Association, and contract with national recruiting firms to find qualified doctors.

    Another ongoing challenge facing the medical profession is spiraling health care costs. While the Affordable Healthcare Act passed in 2010 was designed to bring costs under control, Hannon believes it may take at least a decade to know what the ultimate impact will be on the industry.

    “A large segment of the bill won’t be implemented until 2014 so a huge part is still unknown,” Hannon said. “It’s still vague on how the private and pubic insurers networks will come together to pay for health care. So there is still  a great challenge facing us on how it will impact providers and insurers delivering health care to the public.”

    Hannon has worked in the health care industry for 35 years. He began his medical career working as a nuclear medicine technician while on active duty in the U.S. Navy.

    It was during his tenure in the Navy where he decided to pursue a career in health care management rather than in nuclear medicine.

    He left the Navy in 1986 to become director of radiology at Mercy Hospital in Watertown, N.Y.

    “I found myself wanting to do more than just helping patients,” Hannon said. “I was fortunate to work for a commander who introduced to me to the management aspects of hospital administration which led me to my eventual career path.”

    Hannon left a fairly mild climate near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to take the position in the northeast. Hannon believes he’s well prepared for the Maine winter because he grew up in upstate New York.

 He remembers several winters when he was working in Watertown where the snowfall reached 200 inches in a season.

    “I’ve met three people in this area who attended the same high school I did in Rochester, N.Y. They told me it may be a little colder here, but the worst Maine winter blizzard is like a light snowfall back home,” Hannon said.

    Hannon succeeded Ralph Gabarro who retired in October 2012 after serving 15 years in the position.