BANGOR — Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has earned a five-star overall quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), the highest rating awarded by the federal agency. CMS five-star ratings are awarded to only approximately 10% of hospitals nationwide and Eastern Maine Medical Center is the only hospital in Maine to receive five stars overall.
This marks the first time Eastern Maine Medical Center has received a five-star rating from CMS, representing a significant achievement in the Medical Center’s performance and commitment to continuous improvement. The recognition follows other recent quality and safety milestones for the medical center as The Joint Commission awarded the hospital their Gold Seal of Accreditation in March and Forbes named Eastern Maine Medical Center one of its “Top Hospitals” for 2026 – the only hospital in northern New England to achieve that distinction.
“This recognition belongs to every member of our amazing team,” Ava Collins, MHA, FACHE, president, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center said. “I have such respect for our physicians, nurses, support staff, and many others who are the backbone of our organization; it is their dedication and expertise that make this level of excellence possible.”
The CMS five-star rating system provides patients and families with a standardized, government-backed assessment of hospital performance. Hospitals are evaluated across dozens of measures spanning clinical quality, operational effectiveness and patient-centered measures, with five stars representing the highest level of performance nationwide.
“For our patients and their families, this five-star recognition means they can have even greater confidence that they are receiving some of the best care available anywhere,” Charles Staley, MD, interim chief medical officer, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, said. “It affirms that when you choose Eastern Maine Medical Center, you are choosing a hospital that excels in key areas that matter most, from reducing infections and preventing complications to delivering timely, effective care that ensure patients feel heard and respected.”
The CMS Star Quality Ratings are updated annually and remain one of the most widely used benchmarks for hospital performance across the United States. Discover more about the rating system and the CMS methodology at https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/topics/hospitals/overall-hospital-quality-star-rating/.
Learn more about Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center’s clinical programs at northernlighthealth.org/EMMC.
