The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Attorney General's Office have approved the proposed strategic alliance between Heywood Hospital in Gardner, MA and Athol-Memorial Hospital in Athol, MA.
Under the agreement, there will continue to be two individual hospitals, which will be governed by an overarching parent company, North Central Healthcare, with Brown serving as president and CEO of all three organizations. The new healthcare parent will be directed by a single board of trustees drawn from the current Heywood and Athol Memorial boards.
"Today we have taken a significant step toward a more secure healthcare future, not only for Heywood and Athol Memorial, but for our entire region," said Jim Meehan, Interim President and CEO at Athol Memorial Hospital. "This partnership will help to ensure that the communities we serve retain locally-owned and -focused care in the evolving healthcare environment."
The alliance will help provide both hospitals with long-term financial stability, the ability to effectively utilize resources, and streamline capital spending on new technologies and equipment, while promoting more comprehensive regional care.
"With this strategic alliance, we will improve healthcare in our region," said Kenneth J. Pierce, chair of the Heywood Hospital Board of Trustees. "From the beginning, we felt the health and welfare of our communities would be best served by a partnership between our two respected hospitals. We look forward to experiencing the benefits which will undoubtedly result from an affiliation between these two great healthcare resources."
With the final step in the approval process complete, Heywood and Athol Memorial Hospitals will officially be joined under their new parent company,
North Central Healthcare, on January 1.
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About Heywood Hospital
Heywood Hospital is an independent, community-owned, non-profit 153-bed acute-care hospital located in Gardner, MA. Heywood Hospital provides a broad range of high quality medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital's Centers of Excellence include the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center; and the Heywood Heart Center, an affiliate of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at UMass Memorial Health Care. Heywood's nationally recognized Transitional Care Center was recently ranked among the best long-term and rehabilitation centers in the nation by US News and World Report. In addition to the main campus, Heywood Hospital has two satellite facilities, the Winchendon Health Center in Winchendon and the Heywood Rehab Center in Gardner, as well as a number of primary care practices in the region. Heywood Hospital also operates a school-based health center, the Murdock Health Center at the Murdock Middle High School in Winchendon.
About Athol Memorial Hospital
Athol Memorial Hospital is 25 bed not-for-profit acute care and outpatient facility serving the communities of the North Quabbin region since 1950. It is designated as a Critical Access Hospital and Primary Stroke Center, licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and accredited by the Joint Commission.