Steward Health Care announced it will close Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center next month.

Steward Healthcare announced Friday that it will close two of its eight Massachusetts medical centers next month. The private, for-profit health care company said Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer will close on or about Aug. 31, after failing to secure qualified bids for the properties. Steward said it is “actively working to sell or convert all of its Massachusetts hospitals, and is in active final negotiations to sell six of them.” “This is a difficult and unfortunate situation, and the impact it will have on our patients, our staff and the communities we serve is devastating,” Steward said. “We will do everything we can to ensure a smooth transition for those affected while continuing to provide high-quality care to the patients we will continue to serve.” Gov. Maura Haley has blamed the hospital closures on “greed and mismanagement.” “It’s not over,” Haley said. “It’s unfortunate that the greed and mismanagement of (Steward CEO) Ralph de la Torre and Steward led to the closure of Carney and Nashoba Valley hospitals. These hospitals have served their communities for so long — and their closure is about more than just losing beds, doctors and nurses.” A union representing health care workers called the move “devastating.” “Steward Healthcare’s decision to close Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center is devastating, creating hospital deserts and increasing health inequities in the communities they serve,” the 1199SEIU union said in a statement. “Patients across Massachusetts will now pay the ultimate price for Steward’s mismanagement if care is paid for miles away and emergency room capacity reaches crisis levels. The future of healthcare in Massachusetts is at risk.” Steward said she will work with both patients and staff affected by the closures. “We will work closely with our patients in Carney and Nashoba to help them find the best possible alternative for care and with our valued staff and healthcare professionals to help with this very difficult transition,” Steward said. “Steward’s decision to close Carney Hospital is its latest failure to the people of Boston. The city is committed to working closely with the state to explore all possible paths forward to ensure access to care for Dorchester residents and beyond, particularly emergency and acute care services,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Steward Healthcare filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 6. Haley said earlier this week that the company was looking to sell all of its hospitals and had received “qualified bids” for some facilities in Massachusetts. Steward said it was receiving bids for its other Massachusetts hospitals, including Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Morton Hospital in Taunton, St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton and Holy Family Hospital with campuses in Methuen and Haverhill. “These hospitals are essential to these communities. He has done enough damage to this state,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “As for the remaining hospitals, we know that Steward has received multiple offers to not only maintain and improve five of their hospitals in three key areas. It is time for Steward and their real estate partners to put the communities they serve above their selfish greed. They need to make these deals that are in their best interest and the best interest of their patients and staff.” Haley’s office said that Carney and Nashoba hospitals remained open Friday and will proceed with an “orderly and orderly closure.” Warren said that “our first priority must be the patients.” Sen. Ed Markey said that “the callousness shown to the health and well-being of the people of Massachusetts is nothing short of astonishing.” “Steward Healthcare has willfully bought up the safety net hospitals that communities rely on and run them to the ground in an attempt to extract maximum profits.” Haley’s office said the bankruptcy judge will have to approve Steward’s proposal to close the hospital, after which Steward will be required to send a notice of closure to the Department of Public Health, facilitating the transition of affected patients and staff. “There is still a process that Steward Healthcare must follow that has been set forth by the bankruptcy court and the law,” Markey said. “To date, Steward has ignored transparency requirements and its commitment to serving its patients.” On Thursday, a bipartisan group of senators voted to launch an investigation into Steward. As part of that, they issued a subpoena for De La Torre to testify before a Senate committee in September. Video: ‘Infuriating’: Sen. Warren reacts to the closure of two Steward hospitals in Massachusetts

Cheryl Riley

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