Northern Light Health leadership changes following resignations
By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff
Another Northern Light Health hospital president resigned on Oct. 17, the second to do so in two days.
Tricia Costigan stepped down from her role as president of Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville and Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood, effective immediately, health system spokesperson Suzanne Spruce said in a press release.
This is the second leadership change this week at Northern Light Health, which has scaled back or cut services in the wake of the pandemic. The changes to services within the Northern Light Health system in recent months raises questions about whether it can continue to provide medical care quickly and locally, especially to rural patients with limited options.
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center President Gregory LaFrancois resigned from his role Oct. 16.
Since June, Northern Light Health has cut the hours at its Walk-In Care clinic on Union Street in Bangor, closed its Hearing Care service in Bangor, closed its Dexter Internal Medicine facility, and started charging for its ambulance service to seven Penobscot County towns.
Northern Light previously closed its clinic in Southwest Harbor and shuttered an Orono primary care practice.
The health care provider had a more than $60 million deficit at the end of the second quarter, according to hospital documents.
Randy Clark, president of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, is taking over Inland Hospital and Continuing Care while continuing his role in Sebasticook Valley.
Clark is also a Northern Light Health senior vice president. He’s been with Northern Light for 28 years and became president of Sebasticook Valley Hospital in April 2022.
Another leadership change includes Marie Vienneau becoming the regional president, in addition to senior vice president of Northern Light Health, and president of both Northern Light CA Dean Hospital and Northern Light Mayo Hospital.
The new executive structure links Inland Hospital, Lakewood, and Sebasticook Valley Hospital with facilities in Piscataquis County, Spruce said. It will help administration be efficient and “a good steward of scarce resources during these economic times.”
“Together, we will strengthen the viability of our organizations to ensure the continued delivery of exceptional, patient and resident-focused care that the Waterville community has come to rely on,” Clark said in the press release. “I am confident that through strong teamwork of staff, leaders, medical staff, and the board we will be successful.”