Contact: Debora Spano 
401-258-3081 (cell) Debora.spano@umassmemorial.org

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Public Health Council of the Department of Health and Human Services.has approved the Determination of Need (DoN) applications that proposed the merger of UMass Memorial – HealthAlliance Hospital with UMass Memorial - Clinton Hospital, and the Hospital Improvement Plan/Emergency Department Expansion at HealthAlliance.

The Emergency Department Expansion at UMass Memorial - HealthAlliance Hospital will improve the overall patient experience, add advanced technology, create additional private rooms and increase the number of behavioral health beds. As stewards of the community, UMass Memorial – HealthAlliance Hospital remains committed to providing a safe and secure Emergency Department and to continually build, adapt and increase efficiency to ensure the best clinical outcomes for our patients and our community.

The merger is an integral part o f the strategic vision to grow both hospitals and capitalize on new opportunities for an expanded organization. The Hospital Improvement Plan/Emergency Department Expansion at HealthAlliance demonstrates the investment in our collective future and our dedication to our patients and the community we serve.

“We believe that by combining under one license, UMass Memorial - HealthAlliance Hospital and UMass Memorial - Clinton Hospital can achieve a synergistic effect in medical care delivery that will benefit the communities involved,” shared Deborah Weymouth, president of HealthAlliance Hospital and interim president of Clinton Hospital. “It will allow both facilities to draw on their tremendous combined resources to offer patients the right level of care along with improved access. We are pleased this process with the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) moved along several months faster than anticipated.”

“I want to thank the teams at both hospitals for all of their hard work,” stated Douglas Brown, JD, president, community hospitals and chief administration officer of UMass Memorial Health Care. “This affirms our belief that both the merger and Hospital Improvement Plan strengthens the capacity and resources of both entities to maximize high quality, convenient, compassionate and affordable care to the communities we serve.

This is an exciting time for our health care system. We have the opportunity to redesign and reshape much of our work to fully become “The Best Place to Give Care. The Best Place to Get Care.”

The hospitals are on target for an early spring groundbreaking for the Emergency Department and an October 1 merger of HealthAlliance and Clinton Hospitals.

About UMass Memorial Health Care

UMass Memorial Health Care is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts with more than 12,900 employees and 1,670 physicians, many of whom are members of UMass Memorial Medical Group. Our member hospitals and entities include Clinton Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital, Marlborough Hospital, UMass Memorial Medical Center and Community Healthlink, our behavioral health agency. With our teaching and research partner, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, our extensive primary care network and our cancer, diabetes, heart and vascular, and musculoskeletal programs, UMass Memorial delivers safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

Call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763) for all your health care needs. Visit: https://www.ummhealth.org/.

About UMass Memorial – HealthAlliance Hospital

UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospital is a not-for-profit, full service, acute care hospital that serves the communities of North Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. As a member of UMass Memorial Health Care, HealthAlliance Hospital offers direct access to the advanced medical technology and specialty services that are part of the region’s academic medical center. The HealthAlliance system includes hospital campuses in Leominster and Fitchburg, a regional cancer center, complementary care center, outpatient physical therapy centers, a home health and hospice agency, urgent care centers HealthAlliance Fitchburg Family Practice. General information: Leominster Campus, 978-466-2000 or Fitchburg Campus 978-343-5000

About UMass Memorial – Clinton Hospital

UMass Memorial – Clinton Hospital is nationally recognized for consistently high ratings in patient satisfaction. The hospital offers patients local access to emergency care and cardiovascular medicine – performed by expert physicians from UMass Memorial Medical Center – and a wide range of specialty services provided by highly regarded private physicians. In addition to convenient outpatient services such a same-day surgery and physical therapy, Clinton Hospital offers access to a number of diagnostic services, including nuclear medicine, ultrasound, CT scanning, stress testing and digital mammography, to families throughout our community. Clinton Hospital is the first hospital in Massachusetts to receive ISO 9001:2008 certification. General information: 978-368-3000

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