Department (administrative division)

Massachusetts Nurses Association: June 20 State House Hearing to Examine Hospital Service Closures and Financial Transparency Bills as Healthcare Corporations Try to Shutter Maternity Services in Leominster, Addiction Treatment in Taunton

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 15, 2023
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BOSTON, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The dangerous trend of hospital corporations choosing profits over safe and accessible patient care will come under scrutiny during a June 20 State House hearing when lawmakers hear from nurses, community members and other advocates about legislation aimed at overhauling the Commonwealth's essential health service closure process.

Key Points: 
  • Who: Nurses, physicians, community members, healthcare advocates and experts will be testifying about closures impacting a variety of communities.
  • The hearing comes amid a healthcare crisis in Massachusetts created by hospital corporations prioritizing financial gain over patient safety and care access for years before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Understaffing is causing nurses to flee the bedside and entire communities such as Leominster and Taunton are threatened by maternity and addiction treatment closures.
  • Since 2009, more than 40 hospitals or units have closed in Massachusetts, according to a review of public records.

MNA: DPH Deems Steward Morton Hospital's 32-Bed Substance Abuse Treat Unit An Essential Service "Necessary for Preserving Access and Health Status Within the Hospital's Service Area."

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Exercise, National Nurses United, Georgia Department of Public Health, Travel, Statehouse, MNA, Health policy, Department (administrative division), Legislature, Bed, Nursing, NORCAP, Public, Workplace, Health care, Health, Health status of Asian Americans, Policy, Licensure, Human, Birthing center, Multimedia, Joint committee, Mother, Public health, Hospital, Division, Patient, DPH, Hearing, Comment, Morton Hospital and Medical Center, Carney, Commonwealth, Transport, Letter, Caregiver, Behavior, Legislation, UMass Memorial Health, Lease, Medical device

BOSTON, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Public Health has issued its findings regarding Steward Healthcare's plan to close the 32-bed MORCAP (Morton Comprehensive Addiction Program), located at Steward Morton Hospital in Taunton, deeming the program an essential service "necessary for preserving access and health status within the hospital's service area. The full DPH letter can be found here.

Key Points: 
  • said Katie Murphy, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents the nurses who staff the program.
  • The MNA is not alone in its skepticism about the current process for addressing the loss of essential services.
  • The service was previously called the NORCAP Lodge and located in Foxboro, where it was affiliated with Steward Good Samaritan Medical Center.
  • In response to the NORCAP closure proposal, the DPH had deemed it an essential service to the region to preserve the public health in the community.