Judy Benner was named Pen Bay Healthcare Employee of the Year for 2013, to the delight of her coworkers who honored her at the Pen Bay Healthcare holiday party. Benner is a 37-year employee with 35 years in Pen Bay's Special Care Unit (SCU).

According to Sharon McDermott, director of Critical Care Nursing Services, "Judy Benner is an outstanding employee who does all that she can to provide a positive experience for the patient and family. Like an air-traffic controller, she is the glue that holds the department together. She is always helpful, often anticipating what needs to be done and doing it without being asked. I am always confident that she will follow a problem until it is satisfactorily resolved. Before the term was even formalized, Judy is the embodiment of 'patient-centered care'. She makes a positive impact on the workday."

During the ceremony, Wade C. Johnson, president and CEO, presented Ms. Benner with a plaque, tiara, floral bouquet and a check for $1,000!

At the same event, recent Employee of the Month honorees were celebrated and Pen Bay employees who have worked for 25 years or more were honored. Their names were entered into a drawing and ten happy "25-Year Club" members won a week of paid time off.

Pen Bay Healthcare

Pen Bay Healthcare is a not-for-profit family of services which includes Pen Bay Medical Center, a Leapfrog Group 2012 National Top Hospital and the largest community hospital in Midcoast Maine, as well as Pen Bay Physicians & Associates, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, Quarry Hill Retirement Community and the Knox Center for Long Term Care. Through these organizations, and with a staff of more than 100 outstanding physicians and more than 1,500 healthcare professionals, we are able to provide the people of Midcoast Maine with a continuum of both routine and specialty patient-centered medical services. Pen Bay Healthcare is a member of the MaineHealth system. For more information, please visit www.penbayhealthcare.org.