🔒MaineHealth to cut 83 jobs in restructuring of IT, analytics

MaineHealth plans to trim 83 positions in its information technology and analytics departments as it reorganizes the teams to respond to changing health care needs and improve efficiency. “Changes in federal health care policy and reimbursement, advances in technology and changing patient needs require health systems to find new ways to deliver high-quality care while reducing the total cost of care,” the company said. “That means periodically redesigning how work is organized so we can continue investing in patient care, our communities and our care teams.” No patient-facing roles are affected by the changes, which entail eliminating 56 employees in analytics and 27 in IT. Current team members in both departments will participate in a selection process for roles in the redesigned organizations, MaineHealth said in Tuesday’s announcement. "We recognize these changes are difficult for our care team members and their families, and decisions like these are never easy," said Kelly Elkins, the company’s chief operating officer. “Health care is changing, and we must continue to evolve with it. “Ultimately, our responsibility is to ensure MaineHealth remains strong enough to continue delivering exceptional care for the communities we serve today and for generations to come,” she added. MaineHealth spokesman John Porter said that no outsourcing is associated with the restructuring. He also said that while there is no one technology driving the move, MaineHealth is constantly evaluating and introducing new tools and technologies across the system — some of which would include an AI component. As health care continues to evolve, MaineHealth said it will continue to evaluate how work is organized across the system to best serve patients, support care teams and fulfill its mission.

About MaineHealth

With more than 2,000 employed providers and 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million patients across Maine and New Hampshire.