CARIBOU, Maine — Becker’s Hospital Review, a major healthcare trade publication with some 18,000 subscribers, has named Cary Medical Center in Caribou among the nation’s top 100 Great Community Hospitals. The listing of the top 100 was released on July 3. The recognition comes as Cary celebrates its 100th anniversary. Cary was the only hospital in Maine to make the list.
The article announcing the ‘Great Hospital’s’, pointed to the critical role of community hospitals in the nation’s health care system. “Community hospitals are a crucial piece of the overall healthcare system in the U.S. They provide patients located outside of metropolitan areas with convenient, affordable care. Some of these community hospitals serve rural populations, while others benefit suburban communities.”
“The community hospitals honored in this list are focused on bringing clinical and academic excellence, personalized and holistic care, and overall improved health to their communities. The Becker’s editorial team selected hospitals for inclusion based on nominations and considered several outside rankings and ratings organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, CMS, The Leapfrog Group, the National Rural Health Association and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.”
The article went on to cite the reason why Cary Medical Center was chosen for this elite list. “Established in 1924 and currently celebrating 100 years of expert care provision, Cary Medical Center aspires to create healthier communities. The medical center is credited with launching the first rural veterans’ community-based outpatient clinic in the U.S., a model that set the standard for VA clinics nationwide. Recently, the center renovated its inpatient acute care and maternal child care units and installed advanced MRI and CT scan instruments, all while remaining one of the lowest indebted hospitals in the state. The hospital has also implemented an award-winning “Healthy You” nutrition education program and a ‘Bone Builders’ strength training program for older adults. For over 30 years, the hospital has worked with the ‘Power of Prevention’ community collaborative to fight substance use disorder. The medical center has also established a strong partnership with Pines Health Services, a federally qualified health center that would normally be a market competitor, in order to collaboratively meet the healthcare needs of rural northern Maine, particularly for low-income populations. In 2023, Cary received a 5-star CMS rating and was named a top rural hospital by Chartis Center for Rural Health.”
Kris Doody, RN, CEO for Cary Medical Center, praised hospital staff and the collaborative partnership with Pines Health Services for making the top 100 list. Doody has served as the hospital’s CEO since 1999.
“This is just a remarkable achievement,” said Doody who is also CEO for Pines Health Services. “Our success is truly based on the outstanding performance of our family of employees at every level. Working at Cary Medical Center is not just a job, it’s a calling. There is a spirit and energy here that has stood the test of time for 100 years. Cary is built upon the shoulders of those who came before us and our staff has maintained that culture, raising the bar even higher.”
Doody also said that the relationship with Pines has been called a model for the nation and that working together has multiple benefits.
“In many circumstances hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers are competing with each other for the same patients,” said Doody who has led Pines since 2018. “We have taken a different approach for the betterment of the communities we serve and we are having an impact on the overall health of this region.”
Doody said that the hospital plans to celebrate this national recognition at a special event later this year.
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