ROCKPORT and BELFAST — The Community Health team at Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital announce the addition of Community Health Worker (CHW) Breanne Bucka.

In her new position, Bucka will go out into the community, working with clients throughout Waldo County to connect them with resources to help manage their health.

Bucka comes to Waldo from Community Care Maine, where she was a visitation support worker. In that role, she supported families that were working with the Department of Health of Human Services. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

The CHW program is designed to help community members who have historically faced barriers to accessing health care, such as lack of transportation or insurance, or discomfort with navigating the medical system.

This assistance is provided at no cost to patients and allows CHWs to work with clients for a period of three months. Together, they set health goals and overcome challenges, from navigating new medical diagnoses or identifying sustainable transportation options to applying for SNAP benefits or learning to cook meals at home.

The CHW program is open to patients 18+ who live in Knox or Waldo counties. Patients are referred through providers and community partners, including food pantries and soup kitchens, schools, shelters and Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies. Community members can also reach out to the program directly using Mainehealth.findhelp.com.

Pen Bay is looking to hire an additional CHW to help meet the needs of its communities. For more information about the position, or to apply, click here.

About Pen Bay Medical Center

Pen Bay Medical Center is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of eight local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.

Waldo County General Hospital

Waldo County General Hospital is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of eight local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit wcgh.org.