NORWAY — Eugene Benner, Western Maine Health board chairman, and Timothy A. Churchill, president and CEO of Western Maine Health, announced recently that Stephens Memorial Hospital has received Critical Access Hospital designation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The CAH designation was created by Congress to strengthen the delivery of health care in rural areas. There are currently more than 1,300 critical access hospitals in the United States, and 16 critical access hospitals in Maine.

The Critical Access Hospital survey conducted by CMS took place in November. The hospital met and/or exceeded all the necessary requirements. The CAH designation will allow Stephens Memorial to move toward private rooms for patients in the immediate future. Critical Access Hospital status will likely improve employee/physician staffing and existing services

Stephens Memorial Hospital is a member of MaineHealth. Visit Stephens Memorial Hospital on the Internet at: www.wmhcc.org.