Maine Med draws national attention for quality

Maine Medical Center was recently named the best hospital in Maine by U.S. News & World Report while earlier this month Consumer Reports gave it an average ranking in a limited safety study of four Maine hospitals.

In the U.S. News & World Report's 23rd annual list, Maine Med is among 720 hospitals named among the places "where other hospitals send the toughest cases," according to a press release. Five of its specialties were also named in the publication's high-performing category: cancer, gynecology, nephrology, orthopedics and urology. According to the release, fewer than 150 hospitals are nationally ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties.

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports rated four Maine hospitals for safety and ranked Maine Med behind Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville and Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Maine Med was given a safety score of 46 out of 100, and complications there were noted as being worse than average. Central Maine Medical Center, ranked the safest in the state, received a score of 65.

The publication ranked hospitals for the first time, rating 1,159 hospitals in 44 states; other hospitals were not ranked because they didn't fully or consistently report the data Consumer Reports used. It ranked hospitals with available data on bloodstream infections, avoiding re-admissions, drug information and electronic records. More information can be accessed from Consumer Reports with a subscription.