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Department of Public Health orders MetroWest Medical Center to submit plan to maintain special-care nursery services
Summary
The city’s mayor reported that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found local testimony persuasive and required MetroWest Medical Center to submit a plan, within 15 days of receiving the letter, explaining how neonatal special-care nursery services will be maintained or alternatives considered.
Mayor Charlie Cycinski told the City Council that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a written finding that services at MetroWest Medical Center are necessary to preserve access and health status in the hospital’s service area.
The mayor said the department “has made a finding that the services provided by the hospital are in fact necessary for preserving access and health status within the hospital service area.” He added that the hospital was “required to prepare a plan that details how access to special care nursery services will be maintained for the residents of the service plan. The plan must be submitted to the department no later than 15 calendar days of receipt of this letter.”
Why it matters: Councilors and residents had testified at an April 9 hearing about plans to eliminate Level 2B neonatal services at the hospital. The DPH letter directs MetroWest to explain whether it can transition services instead of eliminating Level 2B bassinets and, if so, what would be required to make that change. The city’s mayor framed the DPH action as a response to local testimony and said the finding was “very positive” for area residents.
Details: The mayor said the DPH’s direction asks the hospital to address specified elements in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations and to include “level change considerations as an alternative to the elimination of 12 level 2B bassinets and what measures would be necessary to accomplish this.” He also said the DPH decision was influenced in part by the number of residents who testified at the local hearing and by testimony regarding the need for special-care nursery capacity in the region.
What officials said: Mayor Cycinski said the administration will publish the hospital’s plan when the city receives it and that the city will “keep you posted.” Councilor Bryant later told the council she was “so happy to hear about the letter regarding the hospital and the hearing.”
What’s next: MetroWest must submit the plan to the Department of Public Health within the timeframe set in the letter. The mayor said the plan will include the alternatives DPH requested; the council and public will be notified when the plan is filed.
