St Joseph Healthcare’s new president says hospital won’t cut services despite industry challenges | News

BANGOR — It’s a challenging time for healthcare systems as hospitals across the state are cutting services or shutting down, but the new president of St. Joseph healthcare says he does not foresee that happening to the Bangor hospital.

The hospital recently welcomed their newest president Greg LaFrancois. He stepped into the role as president of St. Joseph Healthcare on April 1, after resigning from his previous position as president of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center last October. 

“I have relationships with so many of the health leaders here in this region, I know a lot of the community leaders and it really looked like an opportunity to collaborate across all of the providers to improve the health in this region,” said LaFrancois. 

LaFrancois is also the Senior Vice President of Covenant Health. He says he was drawn to the hospital’s reputation for having a culture built on compassion. 

While challenges facing the industry such as financial deficits and low patient volume are forcing other healthcare centers to cut staff and services, LaFrancois says the hospital has set itself apart by prioritizing their mission and values. 

​​​​​​​”When you lose sight of what your core mission is and you jump into areas where may be on the fringe and you don’t necessarily belong in and then you hit choppy waters that’s when you’re stuck and you’ve got to discontinue services,” said LaFrancois. “Those who came before me have set us up in a good position and we are just ok, and I’ve got to really work hard to keep us ok and to build on that.”

However they are not immune to the pressures providers are facing such as tariff threats and potential cuts to Maine’s Medicaid program. He says the rising costs of supplies and access to staff are proving to be increasingly challenging. 

“Healthcare is extremely expensive and getting more so and it’s hard to ask our employers to pay more for care because they are strapped as well.” 

He says his top priority is navigating the hospital and their patients through these challenging times and possible future threats to the industry while preserving the hospital’s culture. 

“We are looking for opportunities to improve health and that’s not just for those who have resources, it’s for everyone in our community, and that’s what we live for.”