The Department of Public Health is increasing oversight over all 9 Steward hospitals because the well being care community stays in imminent monetary peril, officers mentioned at a Public Health Council assembly that includes a uncommon look from the governor Wednesday morning.
“The bottom line is this time we do not know what the future of Steward hospitals will be,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein mentioned throughout a Steward replace Wednesday. “That said it’s likely that there will need to be some reorganization reconfiguration, transition and potential closures for Stewart hospitals and the healthcare they deliver.”
Steward Health Care introduced in early January that it owed over $50 million in unpaid lease. Later, greater than a dozen lawsuits in Massachusetts from unpaid distributors and workers got here to gentle. The Dallas-based community is the biggest personal for-profit healthcare community within the nation and operates 9 hospitals in Massachusetts.
The community indicated a minimum of 4 hospitals within the state have been beneath risk of closure, however in early February introduced they secured mandatory funding to maintain all Massachusetts hospitals open. The ongoing monetary disaster has introduced the mannequin of funding hospitals via personal fairness beneath renewed political and regulatory scrutiny.
“I’ve been on the council for 10 years, and this is the first time that governor has come to speak to us,” council member Dr. Edward Bernstein mentioned Wednesday. “The sort of monitoring that’s taking place is something I haven’t seen in this history. And I think we’re approaching a public health crisis or emergency.”
At Wednesday’s assembly, Goldstein mentioned Steward should face its personal monetary challenges, however the governor’s administration and DPH are working collectively on oversight on the hospitals and contingencies for closures.
DPH has had high quality and security screens at 4 hospitals — St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen — for a number of weeks, Goldstein mentioned, and can broaden to observe all Steward hospitals by subsequent week.
“Our monitors are looking at staffing, services, supplies and equipment to assess that the hospital has what it needs and is required to have to deliver safe and high quality care in each of the facilities,” mentioned Goldstein, including that the groups are involved with employees.
The division is working with federal regulators, Massachusetts hospitals, leaders, labor unions, insurers, and neighborhood organizations because the scenario progresses on contingencies and issues, the commissioner mentioned.
Goldstein famous the Steward disaster is unfolding as Massachusetts well being care is already “confronting unprecedented capacity constraints” and in a “enormously challenging and unsustainable” scenario.
Healey mentioned she has had a historical past with Steward as the previous Attorney General, together with taking the corporate to courtroom to get monetary info, and expressed frustration with the corporate’s continued suspect practices.
“I know this is a situation of deep concern to all of us and especially to you as public health leaders,” Healey mentioned. “I want you to know that it is an urgent priority and has been for me and for our entire administration.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”