The statement goes on to say, “In principle, both organizations believe the affiliation will help build a strong regional system, while at the same time preserving the steadfast commitment to community-based care.”Īccording to Joseph Wendelken, public information officer, the health department has 120 days to render a decision after a completed application is filed. Until such in-depth planning occurs, it would be premature to speculate how specific services will be delivered.” In a statement released Wednesday, Care New England said the boards of both groups agreed to pursue a merger and that, “The organizations will now work on execution of the affiliation agreement, initiation of the required regulatory review processes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, continuation of the due diligence reviews, and the start of formal planning to develop an integrated health system which will define how programs and services will be configured. In Rhode Island, the merger requires approval of both the health department and attorney general, under the Hospital Conversions Act, “to assure the viability of a safe, accessible and affordable healthcare system that is available to all the citizens of the state.” A review is triggered under the Hospital Conversion Act if a 20 percent or greater transfer of ownership or control is initiated. The announcement said the parties intended to create plans for “an integrated health system capitalizing on each organization’s strengths in patient services and population health management” and initiate the regulatory process in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The merger, if completed, will create a $2-billion entity encompassing eight hospitals and more than 15,000 employees, including 1,700 aligned physicians, across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Those are among the reactions to surface since Care New England and Southcoast announced late last month that they were moving forward with plans to combine. I expect that our community would make sure that the community aspects of Kent are retained and enhanced through any merger or affiliation,” the mayor continued. The community here is very supportive of Kent, and that shows in the way in which all of our capital campaigns have been successful. “There are many items that Southcoast can bring that will advance and enhance health care services at Kent. Kent Hospital has made dramatic advancements in the last decade and I do not think anyone would want to undo that progress,” he said in an email. “I see the potential affiliation of Kent and Southcoast as a valued-added relationship. Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian looks at the possible merger as an opportunity. “It has become a cog in a corporate empire … what has Southcoast demanded as a condition to put the deal together?” Looking back, Callaci said that Care New England hasn’t necessarily been a good thing for Kent. “Is it going to be a centralized model, or decentralized? How do they plan to work? Will they work in parallel, or will one take patients from the other?” “What does this mean for Kent?” Callaci asked.
In an interview Tuesday, Jack Callaci, director of collective bargaining and organizing for United Nurses & Allied Professions, said the union would have a better idea of what to expect when the entities submit an application to the Health Department and the Office of the Attorney General. The union representing about 900 nurses and care workers at Kent Hospital is keeping an “open mind” on talks of a merger between Care New England and the Southcoast Health System, based in New Bedford.
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