Mercy Hospital Northern Light Mercy Hospital

What it reported doing in 2024

Please see the following excerpt from the Northern Light Health Annual Report 2025 to the Community for details of community benefit projects at NLH members: Guiding the wayEvery day, our Northern Light Health team demonstrates extraordinary commitment to our mission and to the patients, families, and communities who rely on us. Their dedication serves as a constant reminder of the strength that only comes from working together with purpose.This annual report tells some of the stories that reflect our determination to care for the people of Maine. From our smallest health centers to our largest hospitals, Northern Light Health is united in our belief that every person in our state deserves high-quality, compassionate care as close to home as possible.We are proud of our progress, inspired by the work ahead, and committed to leading Northern Light Health toward a future filled with promise. We are committed to serving you for generations to come.Thank you for your trust and support.R. Guy Hudson, MDPresident & CEONorthern Light HealthJohn RyanBoard ChairNorthern Light HealthTraveling HomeTheres no place like Hancock CountyAfter 24 years on the road as a travel nurse, Karen Beinhauer, BSN, RN, has learned that every hospital has its own rhythm. It wasnt until she arrived at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital that she realized shed found something she didnt even know she was searching for a place to call home.I knew this was where I wanted to stay because when I got here, it felt like coming home, Beinhauer says. The people, the community, the staff, it just felt comfortable and kind. Everyone waves, everyone helps. Its a special place.Beinhauers path to Maine wasnt straightforward. She began her nursing career in Mississippi in the early 2000s, working as a single mother in an intensive care unit (ICU). I was struggling to make my student loan payments, she remembers. My mom suggested travel nursing, and I laughed, Thats for single people! But the next day, a travel nursing brochure showed up in my mailbox. I called, signed up, and that was the start of my journey.After more than two decades on the road, Beinhauer worked across the country, and found her way to Maine. Its paradise here, she says. The sea air, the trees, it smells like Christmas in June. I collect sea glass and shells, go clamming, and make little art pieces for friends. When Im not at work, youll find me on the beach on Little Cranberry Island just enjoying life.When she joined Maine Coast Hospital, Beinhauer felt an immediate connection with the team. We have an incredible group, she adds. Our managers and supervisors step in to help whenever needed, and everyone supports each other. Its about caring for our patients and for each other.For Ann-Margaret Shaheen, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at Northern Light Maine Coast and Blue Hill hospitals, Beinhauers story represents something much larger. Travel nurses are vital to our staffing model at the current time, but they are not a permanent solution, Shaheen explains.Travel nurses typically sign 13-week contracts. Because they move frequently and work in varied settings, travelers are often quick learners who bring rich clinical experience. We value their expertise, states Shaheen. Our goal, however, is to grow our local teams and to decrease turnover. This will help us improve teamwork, build relationships, and ultimately to standardize processes and quality initiatives that improve patient safety.When a travel nurse decides to stay, I believe it speaks volumes about our culture and work environment. It also strengthens our care team.Weve had two former travel nurses stay and become charge nurses leaders among their peers, Shaheen says. Another stayed and grew into a managerial role. Its wonderful to recruit these nurses and to see that professional growth happens right here.What draws them in? Beyond a supportive work environment with opportunity for professional growth, Shaheen credits the beauty of coastal

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 84.2%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 89.4%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 78.9%; rating input score 79; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 5.6%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.79; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.68; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.7%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -8.2% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.3% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings