09/04/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2025
Houlton Regional Hospital Expands Services, Reaffirms Commitment to Patients Amid Union Strike Vote
Houlton, ME – Houlton Regional Hospital (HRH) announced today, several new service expansions while addressing concerns over the Registered Nurses’ union’s recent vote to authorize a strike.
“We are bringing new services to HRH including Cardiology, Pain Management, Orthopedics, Urology, the recruitment of additional Primary Care providers, and outpatient Behavioral Health, with a design in process for inpatient Behavioral Health services,” said Jeff Zewe, Chief Executive Officer of HRH. “This is an exciting time for HRH and our community.”
HRH leadership emphasizes that despite the hospital’s progress, they were disappointed to learn of the union’s reported strike authorization. “To have the bargaining unit RNs vote ‘overwhelmingly’ to strike, as reported by their union, causes me concern,” Jeff Zewe proclaims.
Zewe, who began his tenure at HRH only three months ago, noted that the hospital has already taken significant steps toward stabilizing operations while maintaining high standards of care.
“We have begun much needed work to focus on continued outstanding patient care and stabilize our financial position,” he explained. “I did ask the union for a short pause in negotiations while we completed our review of hospital operations. The union agreed to this pause. We began meeting again two weeks ago and have a planned negotiation session for tomorrow. We have been and will continue to bargain in good faith to come to an agreement on a new contract.”
The union has cited safe staffing, wages, and recruitment and retention as central issues. However, HRH leadership points to several important facts that underscore the hospital’s ongoing commitment to its employees and the community.
HRH maintains a 4-Star rating for patient experience, placing it among the top hospitals in the country. Nurse-to-patient staffing ratios are more generous than the national average, and the hospital has only a few travel nurses remaining, with plans to phase them out. Only a small number of RN positions are currently posted.
To ensure safe staffing, HRH will be introducing a new best-practice initiative: daily leadership huddles to address staffing concerns in real time. The hospital also maintains a robust reporting process for employees to raise concerns for prompt review and investigation. In addition, all of HRH’s nationally ranked quality scores remain at or above the national average.
“We respect and value all staff for their contributions and continued commitment to our patients and our community,” Zewe said. “We sincerely hope that the RN’s union does not make the unnecessary decision to strike and ask their members to abandon their patients. However, if we are issued a strike notice, we have a comprehensive plan in place to continue to provide the outstanding patient care that our community expects from HRH.”
