Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Sebasticook Valley Health d/b/a Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is a critical access hospital whose mission is to be the regional leader in meeting the health needs of our communities, providing quality care, always treating people with dignity and respect.
- Income
- $66.9 million
- Spending
- $60.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 387
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $1.7 million, ex-officio
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (6)
- $51.1 million spent. Sebasticook Valley Health d/b/a Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital (SVH) is a nonprofit hospital, providing service for all that needs care, regardless of their ability to pay. In the 2025 fiscal year, SVH provided free care of $132,054 and recorded $4,085,250 in bad debts. Our hospital provides 24-hours-a-day emergency services with annual visits of 12,066. SVH provides many free services and programs that are designed to improve the health and well being of our surrounding communities.Additional Statistics:IP Admissions of 988Patient Days 5,924Emergency Room Visits 12,066Surgical Cases 978Outpatient Visits 136,213
- $1.3 million spent. Medicare Shortfalls (at cost) 14,077 persons served
- $47,628 spent. Charity Care provided (at cost) 141 persons served
- 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 Maine. We have Acadia National Park, internationally renowned art, music, and sailing, community theater, organic farms, and a welcoming spirit, she says. People fall in love with this area and with the people who live and work here. When every mile mattersFor babies born too soon or with critical health needs, every moment matters. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center now has a new modern ambulance created just for babies in need of critical care. Funded entirely by donations from the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Auxiliary, the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, and compassionate community members, the new ambulance gives Maines smallest patients their strongest possible start in life.As the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) north of Portland, Eastern Maine Medical Center cares for more than 450 newborns each year, including about 150 who begin their fight for life in other hospitals. Our Neonatal Transport Team is made up of highly trained nurses who stand ready day and night to bring these babies safely to our NICU.Every time we transport a newborn, we know were carrying someones whole world, says Ken Roy, RN, a member of the Neonatal Transport Team. This ambulance gives us everything we need to provide the best care possible and helps us give families hope when they need it most. Parents are often fearful of their newborn infant leaving their side and traveling to a tertiary center miles away, and they are assured that their infant is traveling in a very safe and reliable ambulance, he adds.This ambulance means peace of mind for families and a smoother, safer journey for their babies, says Mikele Neal, RN, associate vice president of Patient Care Services. Its a gift from our community that will touch lives for years to come.Mission ready for flight Northern Light Acadia Hospital and the 101st Air Refueling Wing,Maine Air National Guard unite for mental he
- Care that meets you where you areLocated just a few blocks off the main road in Sangerville, the Northern Light Health Center serves as a vital connection point between Northern Light Mayo Hospital and Northern Light CA Dean Hospital. The facility offers greater access to services than many rural communities could imagine.A 30-minute drive from Greenville and just a 12-minute drive from Dover-Foxcroft, the Sangerville health center is a hub for care, accessible to patients in Piscataquis and parts of Penobscot and Somerset Counties. The facility offers an unique breadth of services for a rural location, including urology, womens health, prenatal care, newborn and pediatric care, primary care, diabetes management, physical and occupational therapy, ultrasound and x-ray, lab draws, walk-in care, and behavioral health support, all under one roof.Many practitioners at Sangerville split their time between the health center, Mayo, and CA Dean Hospital locations. While Ahmed Elnoor, MD, a urologist and Kristin Hartt, MD, a family practitioner focusing on womens health see patients in Sangerville, Dr. Elnoor performs surgery and Dr. Hartt delivers babies at Mayo Hospital. Galen Durose, MD, a family medicine provider, sees patients in Greenville and Sangerville. This integrated model allows patients to receive coordinated care close to home.Being able to care for patients throughout their lifespan from routine primary care to pregnancy and delivery right here in Sangerville makes a meaningful difference for families, says Dr. Hartt. Im proud to be part of a team that brings comprehensive care to our community, without the need for long travel.By building on historic ties with CA Dean hospital and leveraging proximity to Dover-Foxcroft, the Sangerville health center continues to ensure that patients in rural Maine have exceptional access to care right in their own backyard.From hospital to horsebackHealing through horsesAt Northern Light Mercy Hospital, compassion often extends well beyond the walls of the workplace. For Donna Lariviere, an occupational therapist, that commitment continues at a local horseback riding center, where she spends countless hours supporting therapeutic riding and hippotherapy programs. This specialized therapy provided by trained clinicians, including occupational therapists, uses the horses natural movement as part of treatment. She helps with lessons, barn operations, and daily horse care, serving riders who range in age from just 15 months to adults in their nineties. Each rider enters the arena with their own goals, challenges, and hopes, and Lariviere meets them where they are.Therapeutic riding gives disabled riders physical support by helping them get stronger, but it also gives them emotional support because it gives them confidence by doing something different, Lariviere addsBeyond physical gains, therapeutic riding offers powerful emotional and psychological benefits. Riders often experience increased confidence, improved emotional regulation, reduced stress, and meaningful social connection, whether through bonding with the horse or interacting with others in the program.The work, she says, is deeply rewarding, in part because her two worlds naturally overlap. My two worlds really intersect, Lariviere says. The same skills I use as an occupational therapist at Mercy hospital, meeting people where they are, building trust, and focusing on what matters most to them, are the skills I bring into the arena every day. Advancing cancer care close to homeFor people facing cancer, the journey can be uncertain. Between appointments, treatments, and everything that comes with a diagnosis, being surrounded by family, friends, and familiar places can make an incredible difference.At Northern Light AR Gould Hospital, a new TrueBeam linear accelerator, an advanced radiation therapy system, now ensures that patients can continue to receive state-of-the-art care without leaving their communities. This technology delivers quicker, more precise treatments, and replaces an older model that served Aroostook County for more than a decade.Radiation is an essential option for cancer treatment, explains Naghmeh Isfahanian, MD, radiation oncologist. It can be used before surgery to shrink a tumor, after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells, or even as a primary treatment on its own. The new linear accelerator allows us to deliver those treatments faster and more accurately while protecting healthy tissue and minimizing side effectsWith its enhanced imaging and speed, the TrueBeam also expands what is possible. We can now treat certain cancers, like those in the liver or multiple brain lesions, that we could not safely treat before, says Dr. Isfahanian.For patients in northern Maine, where winter roads and long drives can turn daily radiation treatments into a major challenge, having this technology closer to home is life-changing. Radiation therapy typically happens Monday through Friday for several weeks, Dr. Isfahanian notes. For someone who would otherwise have to travel two or three hours each way, being able to stay close to home truly matters.Other recent investments, including new infusion chairs at Northern Light Mayo Hospital and a hair preservation program at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, are just some of the ways Northern Light Health extends advanced, compassionate cancer care to patients throughout Maine.Every patient deserves quality safe care, says Brenda Farnham, BSN, RN, associate vice president for clinical services at Northern Light Cancer Care in Brewer. Sixty-one percent of Maines population lives in rural communities. We know the barriers people face, such as distance, weather, cost, and time away from work and family. By continuing to invest in facilities, equipment, and creative care models, we can reduce those burdens and improve outcomes.David Brewster: A neighbors gift;a communitys lifeline to Northern Light CA Dean HospitalSome places stay wit
- Community BenefitFor the year ended September 30, 2025Total Community Investment by CategoryCommunity Health Improvement Services $2,366,195Health Professions Education $1,822,491Research $1,517,647Cash and In-Kind Contributions $131,121Community Building Activities $347,504Community Benefit Operations $1,901,310Traditional Charity Care $10,300,762Unpaid Cost of Public Programs: Medicaid $68,118,402 Medicare $151,080,806Total Systemwide $237,586,238Northern Light Health Member Community Benefit Acadia Hospital $12,992,305AR Gould Hospital $19,401,076Blue Hill Hospital $433,598CA Dean Hospital $416,063Eastern Maine Medical Center $143,946,350Home Care & Hospice $1,070,707Home Office $442,685Inland Hospital $11,620,066Maine Coast Hospital $9,281,055Mayo Hospital $103,478Mercy Hospital $36,320,867Sebasticook Valley Hospital $1,557,988Safe beginningsNorthern Light Health earns gold for infant sleep safetyNorthern Light Health is proud to share that all of our hospitals with birthing programs have earned Gold Safe Sleep Hospital certification from the Cribs for Kid National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. This recognition honors our commitment to following the highest standards in infant safe sleep and ensuring that every newborn receives the safest start possible.This achievement reflects the dedication and compassion of our teams across Northern Light Health, says Natalia Hall, MBA, associate vice president, Northern Light Womens Health. Our caregivers have worked diligently to meet these gold-level standards, because every baby deserves a safe and healthy beginning.Congratulations to our safe sleep certified hospitals, delivering on our promise of comprehensive and compassionate care for expectant mothers, newborns, and families throughout Maine every day. Northern Light AR Gould Hospital Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital Northern Light Mayo Hospital Northern Light Mercy HospitalOn the road or in the hospital,these new devices never skip a beatEvery second counts when your heart stops. Thanks to a grant from the Maine Emergency Medical Services Stabilization Program, our teams now have new chest compression devices.Manual compressions require switching out providers every two minutes, which can be hard in urgent situations, explains Michael St. Laurent, EMT-P, manager of EMS operations. With these devices, we can maintain consistent compressions while allowing our team to focus on other critical aspects of care for that same patient. Chest compression devices are portable, automated machines built to keep chest compressions going without interruption, allowing EMS and emergency staff the chance to place more focus on airway support, IV access, medication, and other needs.One device is ready around the clock on a 24-hour ambulance and the other moves between a 12-hour ambulance before moving to the Emergency Department at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital overnight.Were so grateful for the state funding that made this possible, says Randy Clark, MBA, president of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital. This is another way we can be there for our patients, whether on the road or here in the hospital when every heartbeat matters.The grant also funded devices that benefit communities supported by Acadia Hospital, CA Dean Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center, and Mayo Hospital.Northern Light HealthBy the numbersOur Members 9 Hospitals 34 Primary care locations 38 Primary care practices 1 Integrated physician organization 7 Nursing homes 6 Emergency transport members 5 Joint ventures 9,790 Employees 1 Home care and hospice organizationOur Services 379,154 Primary care visits 30,714 Inpatient admissions 7,393 Observation admissions 2,995 Births 28,546 Surgical cases outpatient 7,363 Surgical cases inpatient 462,302 Imaging procedures 525 Nursing home long-term care beds 721 Available acute care beds 15,686 ER visits inpatient 101,789 ER visits outpatient 2,292,865 Outpatient visits 104,048 Telehealth visits 451 EMMC cardiac surgeries 1,300 Home care and hospice patients 7,410 Cath lab procedures 69,808 Walk-in care visitsLifeFlight of Maine 1,866 Helicopter Air Transports 220 Fixed Wing Air Transports 836 Ground Transports 257 Total Scene Calls 113 Towns Responded to for Scene Calls 514 Traumatic Injury TransportsNorthern Light Medical Transport 17,607 Total Transports 1,999 Total Number of Wheelchair Van Transports 112 Total Number of Towns/Townships/Unorganized Territories in Response Area Home Care & Hospice and Telehealth 132,154 Home Health Patient Visits 44,736 Hospice Patient Visits 176,890 Total Home Care & Hospice Patient Visits 198,938 Telehealth Visits Day MonitoredJoint Ventures County Physical Therapy, LLC LifeFlight of Maine, LLC LTC, LLC MedComm, LLC Uniship Courier Services, LLC System MapBangorNorthern Light Acadia HospitalNorthern Light Eastern Maine Medical CenterNorthern Light Health FoundationNorthern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light PharmacyNorthern Light Work HealthNorthern Light Healthy Life EAPBlue HillNorthern Light Blue Hill HospitalBrewerNorthern Light Eastern Maine Medical CenterNorthern Light Health Home OfficeNorthern Light PharmacyDover FoxcroftNorthern Light Mayo HospitalNorthern Light Work HealthEllsworthNorthern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light Maine Coast HospitalNorthern Light Work HealthGreenvilleNorthern Light CA Dean HospitalPittsfieldNorthern Light Sebasticook Valley HospitalNorthern Light Work HealthPortlandNorthern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light Mercy HospitalNorthern Light PharmacyNorthern Light Healthy Life EAPNorthern Light Work HealthPresque IsleNorthern Light AR Gould HospitalNorthern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light Work HealthWatervilleNorthern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light Work HealthOur mission, vision, and values Our Mission We improve the health of the people and communities we serve. Our Vision Northern Light Health will be a leader
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.