ROCKPORT — Maine EMS Director Wil O’Neal recognized Pen Bay Medical Center for its readiness to care for pediatric patients during a ceremony held in front of the hospital’s Emergency Department entrance Tuesday, May 7.

Pen Bay was named a Pediatric Innovator, the highest designation offered by the Always Ready for Children (ARC) Program, which aims to ensure that every ill and injured child receives appropriate emergency medical care within Maine-based emergency departments.

“This is not a designation we take lightly and one we fully intend to uphold by assuring the highest level of emergency care is given to patients of all ages in our community and beyond,” Pen Bay Chief of Emergency Medicine Tyler Giberson, MD, said at the event.

Director O’Neal presented the award to Dr. Giberson and Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator Diane Hynes, RN, in front of a crowd of hospital staff, local EMTs and community members. He was joined at the event by State Representative Vicki Doudera, District 41 (Camden and Rockport), who spoke about the hospital’s readiness to take care of her own children whenever they visited the Emergency Department over the years. She also applauded the hospital’s willingness to share resources and best practices with other Maine hospitals, which is required in order to receive the Pediatric Innovator designation.

Pen Bay is only the second hospital in the state to be recognized as a Pediatric Innovator, joining Maine Medical Center in Portland. To receive the designation, a hospital must have a physician and nurse pediatric emergency care coordinator, be willing to share resources with other hospitals in Maine to improve pediatric care and receive a high score on the National Pediatric Readiness Project.

The National Pediatric Readiness Project is a survey of the “readiness” of an Emergency Department to care for an ill or injured presenting child. With a score of 93, Pen Bay’s Emergency Department has received one of the highest pediatric readiness scores in the state of Maine and is significantly above the national median of 69.

“We are with our community through some of the most difficult times and we recognize that a trip to the ER is never the highlight of the day,” Dr. Giberson said. “Our staff is rooted in this community and we care so deeply for all of you. Thank you to our community for giving our department the distinct privilege of caring for you.”

Pen Bay’s ED physicians, nurses and emergency care technicians treat patients from infancy through adulthood, no matter the illness or injury or ability to pay. For more information about emergency care at Pen Bay, visit pbmc.org.

To learn more about the Hospital Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program, visit: Hospital Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program | Maine Emergency Medical Services

Pen Bay Medical Center

Pen Bay Medical Center 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. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.