ROCKPORT — Pen Bay Medical Center has received a generous gift of $150,000 from a patient following a recent visit to the hospital’s Emergency Department.

“The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he made the gift to express his gratitude for the excellent care Pen Bay has provided to him and his family over decades of summering in the area,” said Amy McNaughton, senior director of philanthropic initiatives at Pen Bay and Waldo County General Hospital, in a news release.

The donor also expressed a hope that his donation would provide some momentum toward raising the full amount needed for the project, according to McNaughton.

“Philanthropic investments are key to continuing to attract a first-rate healthcare workforce and delivering the highest quality of healthcare to the community,” she said.

“As one of many non-profit hospitals in the MaineHealth system, Pen Bay benefits enormously from philanthropic gifts, and every gift has an impact on our ability to deliver high quality healthcare to the communities we serve,” said Denise Needham, PharmD, president of PBMC and Waldo County General Hospital.

“Some gifts are from patients and family members grateful for the care received,” said Needham. “Some are from those who want to ensure healthcare excellence close to home, and some are from community members wishing to invest in a transformative project that brings new services to the region. Each and every gift helps make the Midcoast a healthier place to live and work.”

This gift will be used to purchase a second mammography machine as PBMC plans for an expansion of its mammography department. Still in its early stages, the expansion plan includes a breast imaging office with space that will include two mammography machines as well as an ultrasound unit. Patients are typically scheduled for ultrasounds if their mammography results show any irregularities.

When complete, the upgraded space and new mammography machine will help meet the growing demand for mammography services. Currently, there is a waiting list of more than 450 patients, and patients often must wait six months for a standard preventative screening mammogram.

“Timely mammograms are the best way to find and treat breast cancer; more than 98% of those diagnosed early survive,” said PBMC. “This gift of a second mammography machine will significantly increase the community’s access to timely mammograms.”

The Pen Bay Waldo Healthcare Foundation partners with donors to ensure access to healthcare excellence for the communities of Midcoast Maine. With donor investments, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital will continue to achieve tangible and transformative projects. Donations in support of Pen Bay’s mammography department upgrades will support improved health outcomes for patients for years to come.

There are many ways to make a gift to advance healthcare excellence at Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital. For more information, call Amy McNaughton, senior director of philanthropic initiatives, at 207-301-6716 or visit https://www.mainehealth.org/pen-bay-medical-center/ways-give/pen-bay-waldo-healthcare-foundation.  

About Pen Bay Medical Center

Pen Bay Medical Center is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of eight 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.