The private, for-profit health system is closing Kearney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer because it is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings and did not receive any qualified bids for the medical facilities, the company said in a statement.
“Over the past several months, Steward Health Care has been actively working to sell or transition all of our Massachusetts hospitals and is currently in final negotiations to sell six hospitals. Despite an extensive divestiture process that involved close coordination with lenders and regulators, we did not receive any qualifying bids for two hospitals, Kearney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center, and unfortunately both hospitals will close,” the statement read.
Both hospitals are expected to close around Aug. 31, Steward said.
“This is a difficult and unfortunate situation and we regret the impact this will have on our patients, employees and the communities we serve,” the company added. “We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for those affected and to continuing to provide high-quality care to the patients we continue to serve.”
Employees and patients learned of the closure when they arrived to work Friday morning.
“It’s really sad,” said Secretary of Health Petagae Gabidoa. “We were hoping it wouldn’t be closed, but we’re very disappointed to hear it is.”
“They were trying to work things out for us,” said another health secretary in Carney. “I think they were trying to make us think we weren’t going to be shut down. It was a huge shock just to hear the news today. And then to find out it’s going to be 30 to 60 days? That’s a huge shock.”
The deadline for the closures likely came as a shock to others: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires 120 days’ notice of plans to shut down essential services, and 90 days’ formal notice of actual closures.
DPH did not respond to Boston 25’s inquiries about whether the 120-day notice applies in this case given Steward’s bankruptcy status, but two unions representing hospital workers, the Massachusetts Nurses Association and 1199SEIU, plan to sue the state over the issue.
“They just need to meet the DPH’s 120-day standard,” said Philane Deronette, vice president of 1199SEIU. “There’s never a perfect time to close, but these are the rules and procedures that are in place in our state, and we expect Steward and everyone else to follow those standards.”
DeLonette said both closures are a blow, but in different ways. Kearney Hospital serves a community that sees many patients with psychological needs and often lacks the resources to travel far to receive medical care. For Nashoba Hospital, the issue is its rural location and how that affects patient care.
“There are only two ambulances in Ayr itself and maybe one in the surrounding area,” Deronette said. “Given that the next emergency facility is over 30 minutes away, it’s a real concern.”
For now, Kearney employees are worried about their immediate future and the welfare of their patients.
Alyssa Bartholomew, who has worked at Steward Hospital for 18 years, said hospital administrators did not anticipate Carney being at risk.
“There’s nothing to be worried about,” Bartholomew recalled them saying. “Kearney is strong. The community needs you.”
“So what’s the need now,” she said. “Where are those patients going to go? Where are all these patients going to go?”
And what should employees do, she said?
“We have kids and we have to buy groceries,” Bartholomew said. “I was shocked because I never thought Kearney would close.”
Steward said he also received bids to operate other hospitals in the Baystate, including Morton Hospital in Taunton, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family in Methuen and Haverhill, St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Brighton and St. Ann’s Hospital in Fall River.
Norwood Hospital, which has been closed since 2020, is not included in the sale process.
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The company’s CEO, Ralph de la Torre, has been called to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in September.
Gov. Maura Healey called De La Torre’s move to close the hospital “disappointing.”
“This is not the end. It is unfortunate that Ralph de la Torre and Steward’s greed and mismanagement have led to the closure of Kearny Hospital and Nashoba Valley Hospital, which have served their communities for a long time,” Healey said in a statement. “The closure of these hospitals is about much more than the loss of beds, doctors and nurses. I want to assure the people of Massachusetts that we have been diligently preparing for this moment and will take every possible step to assist with a smooth transition for affected patients and employees.”
Mr Steward vowed to “work closely” with patients at both hospitals to find alternative treatment options as the closure date approaches.
“We continue to work closely with our patients in Kearney and Nashoba to help them find the best way to care for them, and we will collaborate with our valued employees and medical professionals to assist them through this very difficult transition,” the company said. “In addition, we have notified and are closely coordinating with the appropriate state and federal agencies regarding the closure process.”
Healy also called on Steward to finalize contracts for the remaining hospitals.
“It’s time for Steward and its real estate partners to put the communities they serve above their own selfish desires,” Healy added. “They need to strike a deal that serves their interests, and the interests of their patients and workers.”
A hearing on the sale of Steward’s other hospitals is scheduled for July 31 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
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