CAMDEN — April 7, 2024, was a memorable date in the nursing career of Margie Placides. On this day she officially became a MaineHealth employee at Quarry Hill, upon completing a three-year assignment in Health Carousel’s PassportUSA program, which brought her from her home in Catanduenes, Philippines to Camden, Maine in April 2021. Placides is the first RN in this international program to join MaineHealth full-time.

MaineHealth has been seeking to attract nurses internationally to address staffing shortages across all platforms within the system since 2019. MaineHealth currently has 24 RNs on assignment with another 45 candidates (45 RNs and two Med Techs) set to arrive in the next 12-18 months.

“Margie is a tremendous credit to our profession and an inspirational member of the Quarry Hill care team,” said her team leader, Ellen Wood, director of residential care at Quarry Hill, in a news release.

Quarry Hill Executive Director/Administrator Loriman Looke added, “When Margie joined us three years ago, she quickly became an integral member of the Quarry Hill team. We are thrilled and fortunate that she elected to remain with Quarry Hill after the completion of her assignment with PassportUSA.” 

Placides said, “I appreciate the incredible camaraderie amongst my colleagues who make each day enjoyable. They don't just see me as a colleague; they treat me like family. Our teamwork is impeccable, and we all share a common goal: providing top-notch care to our residents. When my family came to join me, I felt that I was truly achieving my American Dream.”

Wood has already applied for a second international RN candidate.

“From my experience, this program is a win-win solution,” she said. “Not only does it provide nurses worldwide the opportunity to achieve their American dreams, but it allows residents of communities like Quarry Hill to expand their horizons through these daily cultural encounters. Margie is beloved here, and we’re so pleased she has chosen to stay.”

About Quarry Hill and MaineHealth

Quarry Hill is Midcoast Maine’s premier extended-care community for adults age 55-plus. Quarry Hill is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. To learn more about Quarry Hill, please call 207-301-6116, or visit www.quarryhill.org or www.facebook.com/QuarryHillCamdenMaine.