The American College of Emergency Physicians gives Maine a good grade – and a high ranking – in its national study of emergency medicine.

According to the yearlong national study, Maine received a B-minus for the emergency care available, placing it in eighth place overall.

Only California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania scored better.

The ACEP ranked the states in four categories: access to emergency care, quality of care and patient safety, public health and injury prevention and medical liability. On the first, Maine received its highest grade: an A. Only three other states – Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island – could match the score.

In addition to the good news, the report also points out how the state can improve. The area that strikes us falls under the category of public health and injury prevention. Maine is faulted for its continuing stubbornness in resisting mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists and for not allowing police to pull drivers over for not wearing seat belts. It’s past time for both of these measures, which can prevent serious injury, to become law. Perhaps ACEP will finally give the Legislature the courage to act.

Another area of concern is the medical liability climate in the state. It comes as no surprise that a physicians’ group would support – and grade states accordingly – a cap on damages that can be awarded. While saying the state’s pre-trial screening deserves credit for helping weed out frivolous claims, ACEP promotes a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages. On this count, the Legislature has acted correctly. We don’t think the law should protect doctors who are found negligent, and those are the ones who most benefit from a cap on damages.

Better seat belt laws. Check. Mandatory helmets. Check. Liability caps? Two out of three suggestions are a good place to start.