ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital announces a new partnership with Quirk Chevrolet GMC of Rockland that will help increase access to care and resources for patients and community members. As part of this new partnership, Quirk has sponsored a 2024 Chevrolet Trax for the hospital’s Community Health department to utilize, as they travel out into the community.

“We are very excited to enter into this partnership with Quirk,” said Tyson Thornton, PharmD, FACHE, vice president of operations at MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals, in a news release. “This vehicle isn’t just transportation for our care team members; it’s a lifeline, connecting care and resources to those who need it most.”

The vehicle will help the department overcome logistical hurdles and expand its reach to underserved and rural areas, increase attendance at key community events and ensure safer and more reliable travel for care team members.

“Our team is thrilled about this generous sponsorship,” said Jemma Penberthy, director of Community Health for MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals. “It will enable us to stock our Help Yourself Shelves with nutritious foods, support our Community Health Workers in connecting with patients, offer healthy aging classes, and so much more.”

This partnership not only helps MHPBH but also represents a strategic alignment of Quirk Auto Group’s philanthropic goals with sustainable, community-centered initiatives. For more information about MHPBH’s Community Health department, click here. For more information about Quirk’s community involvement, click 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.