The petition helps to address hospital bed capacity challenges in central Massachusetts

WORCESTER, Mass. – UMass Memorial Health today announced that it will file a petition this month with the Worcester City Council to rezone the former Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center to match that of the UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University campus across the street. UMass Memorial Health purchased the former Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in August of 2021. The change in use will add much needed acute care medical-surgical beds to the campus, helping UMass Memorial address the ongoing inpatient hospital bed shortage in Central Massachusetts.

“We had an inpatient bed shortage in Central Massachusetts before the pandemic, and it’s been exacerbated by the most recent COVID-19 surge. The zoning petition is a critical first step to help the people of our region to get the inpatient hospital-level care they need, closer to home,” said Eric Dickson, MD, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health. “The additional inpatient beds will help ease pressure and strain on stretched-thin emergency room staff and resources at all of our hospitals by providing access to a level of care that can only be provided at an inpatient facility.”  

The property, located at 378 Plantation Street, is adjacent to the UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University campus. UMass Memorial views this filing as a near-term opportunity to begin to address the serious need for additional acute-care beds in the region. UMass Memorial is currently reviewing options to expedite the significant renovations needed for the Plantation Street property to bring new beds online as quickly and safely as possible.

“UMass Memorial Medical Center takes our responsibility as a trusted health and wellbeing partner for our community seriously, and we are committed to increasing access to the inpatient care that central Massachusetts residents need,” said Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, president of UMass Memorial Medical Center. “Renovating this property and adding much-needed beds will further empower our caregivers to deliver high-quality care and create additional healing space for those in our care.”

The filing is one step in the process of converting the space to allow medical-surgical beds. Approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is also required before the property can be used as an inpatient, acute-care facility. 

UMass Memorial Health

UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in central Massachusetts with more than 15,500 employees and 2,100 physicians, many of whom are members of UMass Memorial Medical Group and Harrington Physician Services. We are the clinical partner of UMass Chan Medical School. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital, and UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink. Together, we impact every aspect of life in the region by making health and wellness services available to everyone, advocating for social equality and providing economic stability and opportunity. There are many ways to heal. We pursue them all. Relentlessly. Visit www.ummhealth.org.

Media Contact:

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