Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine Receives
Highest Scores from Maine Health Management Coalition

Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine in Rockport has received the highest possible scores from the Maine Health Management Coalition, a nonprofit coalition of more than 50 Maine employers, doctors, health plans and hospitals, employing more than 200,000 Maine workers. The coalition helps its members to improve the quality and value of the healthcare services they purchase for their employees.

"Not many practices across the state achieve this level of performance," said Dr. Dana Goldsmith, vice president for medical affairs at Penobscot Bay Medical Center. "While we knew this was a great group, we now have objective evidence of the quality of the care they provide."

Three "blue ribbons" were awarded to the Pen Bay Internal Medicine practice. One was for "well developed clinical office systems for managing patient care." The practice was commended for keeping electronic medical records, using electronic prescriptions, maintaining a chronic illness registry, following clinical guidelines, reviewing patient risk factors, creating action plans and coordinating patient care.

The second blue ribbon was awarded for the practice's success in measuring outcomes and achieving recognized results for diabetes treatment. A total of 405 diabetes patients were measured.

The third blue ribbon concerned the treatment of heart disease. A total of 202 heart patients were measured and, again, the award commended the practice on its diligence in measuring the results of heart disease treatments and on the results themselves.

These awards are based on a survey sent in 2007 to all known primary care practices in Maine. The blue ribbon designation indicates practices whose data met or exceeded a national benchmark. The data submitted by Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine were verified by an independent nurse reviewer.

The awards not only communicate the high quality of care rendered by Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine; they also translate to cost savings for some people – mainly Maine state employees – who will no longer be required to pay a co-pay for their visits.

The physicians at Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine are Mark Eggena, MD, PhD, Archibald Green, DO, FACP, Cheryl Liechty, MD, MPH, Kirsten Staples, MD, Edward Steele, MD, and Laura Trask, MD. There are also two family nurse practitioners in the group – Kristen Forrest, FNP, and Jennifer Guilfoyle, FNP.

Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine is located on the Penobscot Bay Medical Center campus in Rockport, in the Physicians Building at 4 Glen Cove Drive, Suite 202. The telephone number is 593-5800.

For more information about the Maine Health Management Coalition, visit http://www.mhmc.info

Penobscot Bay Internal Medicine in Rockport has received three "blue ribbons" - the highest possible scores - from the Maine Health Management Coalition. The awards were for the group's clinical office systems, and for their treatment of diabetes and heart disease. Left to right, Laura Trask, MD; Cheryl Liechty, MD; Mark Eggena, MD, PhD; Edward Steele, MD; Archibald Green, DO, FACP, MPH; Kirsten Staples, MD; Kristen Forrest, FNP; and Jennifer Guilfoyle, FNP.