Heywood Hospital and Athol Memorial Hospital Strategic Alliance Receives Final Approval

Dec. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- 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.

“This strategic alliance creates a true community-owned health care system in North Central Massachusetts,” said Heywood President and CEO, Winfield S. Brown, MSB, MHA, FACHE. “Together, Heywood and Athol can more effectively care for our communities than they could separately. We will be able to leverage the strength of each hospital to provide a greater breadth and depth of services locally, while more efficiently coordinating care – which will enhance both access and the quality of healthcare available to patients in our region.”

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.