Bridgton Pediatrics recognized

BRIDGTON — Bridgton Pediatrics, a member of the Bridgton Hospital Physician Group, accepted the Gold Award from Maine Quality Counts, for their participation in the statewide First Steps (Strengthening Together Early Preventive Screening) Learning Collaborative.

It was one of just six Maine pediatric practices to be recognized at the September 14 award presentation and were recognized for their outstanding performance in increasing childhood and adolescent immunization rates from September 2011-July 2012.

Maine Quality Counts (QC) is leading a three-year pilot with 24 family and pediatric practices in Maine as part of the Improving Health Outcomes for Children (IHOC) Project. IHOC is a collaborative effort in Maine and Vermont supported by a federal CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Grant, awarded to MaineCare Services.

As immunizations are one of the cornerstones of children’s health, the practices in First Steps focused on improving their childhood immunization rates for the first part of the project.

They joined EMMC Husson Pediatrics, Kennebec Pediatrics, PenBay Pediatrics, Penobscot Pediatrics, and Waterville Pediatrics in this honor. Five practices were also recognized for the most improved immunization rates: Barbara Bush Pediatric Clinic/MMC Med-Peds Clinic, Waterville Pediatrics, MMP Falmouth Pediatrics, Winthrop Pediatrics, and Maine Coast Pediatrics.

Presenting the awards to each of the Gold award recipients were Stefanie Nadeau, Director, Office of MaineCare Services and Joanie Klayman, CHIPRA Project Director, Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy, Muskie School of Public Service, USM.

Dr. Wenda Saunders, Physician Leader for Bridgton Pediatrics, reflecting on the experience of First Steps, says that, “The First Steps, Phase 1 project helped our office fine tune our vaccine practices and to raise immunization awareness to the forefront at every visit, so that we are not missing opportunities to help our patients and families stay healthy.”

“The work that goes into achieving improvements in childhood immunization rates month-after-month is challenging. Each practice should be very proud of its accomplishment,” said Amy Belisle, MD, Director of Child Health Quality Improvement and the First Steps Program at Maine Quality Counts.

“Even more exciting is that the practices continue to work on improving their immunization rates and I expect that we will see this kind of improvement spread ultimately throughout all 24 practices and beyond.”

Bridgton Pediatrics welcomes new patients. Please call 647-4232 for appointments.