ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital (MHPBH) has earned a Top Rural Hospital honor for the second time since 2021. At the same time, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland (MHMMC Portland) has been named a Top Teaching Hospital for a third straight year. 

The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is considered one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive, according to MaineHealth, in a news release.

“We are so proud to once again be recognized as a Top Rural Hospital,” said Denise Needham, PharmD, president of MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals. “It’s a testament to our care team’s commitment to providing top-notch patient care.”

Leapfrog, a national quality evaluator, considered nearly 2,400 hospitals for the award. Fewer than six percent received a Top Hospital award. MHMMC Portland is one of 75 Top Teaching Hospitals and MHPBH is among just 15 Top Rural Hospitals.

"We're honored to have Leapfrog recognize the quality and safety of the care our team delivers for a third year in a row," said Britt Crewse, President of MaineHealth's Southern Region, which includes MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland. "As a teaching hospital, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center has a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. Our team embraces teaching and continuous learning as a way of strengthening our ability to care for our community."

The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. Hospitals that receive the awards must rank top among their peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey and achieve top performance in their category.

“MaineHealth puts an emphasis on the quality and safety of the care our teams deliver and have launched a number of initiatives to standardize our practice across the health system,” said MaineHealth Chief Quality Officer Dr. Omar Hasan. “We believe this focus will help us build on the success these awards represent.”

Learn more about Leapfrog’s standards in its Top Hospital Methodology document and see the full list of Top Hospitals 2024 here.

About MaineHealth

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Heal System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.