UMass Memorial Health to merge two of its hospitals

Photo | Grant Welker Marlborough Hospital, part of the UMass Memorial Health Care system

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In an effort to enhance access to quality care, UMass Memorial Health in Worcester will merge its Marlborough Hospital with the system’s flagship UMass Memorial Medical Center.

The decision comes after the Massachusetts Public Health Council voted to approve UMass Memorial Health’s proposal, with UMMC taking on UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital’s medical license, according to a statement emailed Thursday to WBJ by UMass Memorial Health. The merger is expected to be finalized on or around Jan. 1.

“UMass Memorial Health is steadfast in its commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate, and affordable care to patients across Central Massachusetts and beyond. Part of this commitment includes ensuring that all communities can receive the comprehensive preventative and specialized health care they need and deserve,” UMass Memorial wrote in the email.

Before the merger, UMMC operated three campuses, all in Worcester: the University campus on Lake Avenue, the Memorial campus on Belmont Street, and the Hahnemann campus on Lincoln Street.

Marlborough Hospital’s small size has meant it has struggled to see enough patients in order to operate a wide range of hospital and specialty services, Dennis Renaud, director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Determination of Need Program, said in an article published Wednesday by State House News Service.

"Consequently, patient access to services at Marlborough Hospital are impacted by the ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining primary care and specialty care physicians needed to support an acute care hospital in the community,” said Renaud.

Thus, over the past 12 months, the hospital has reduced or cut weekend anesthesia services, general surgery, and urology, he said.

“Under a single, coordinated clinical team, Marlborough patients will gain greater access to community-based specialty care and specialty consults, cutting-edge technologies, and tertiary services available through the Medical Center – keeping more care local. Additionally, we will be better positioned to manage patient care, improve health outcomes, drive quality improvement initiatives, and build a more responsive, patient-centered health care environment,” UMass Memorial wrote.

UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital originally joined the UMass Memorial system in 1998. Both institutions called the affiliation necessary, citing rising insurance costs and the foreseen increased competition created by Saint Vincent Hospital’s new Worcester campus

“We remain dedicated to working collaboratively with the state and other key stakeholders to continue our work to strengthen and stabilize health care throughout the region,” UMass Memorial said.

UMass Memorial Health’s most recent merger comes after the healthcare system finalized its corporate affiliation with UMass Memorial Health - Milford Regional Medical Center in October after having been clinically affiliated with the system since 1991.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.