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| ~Photo by Bobbie Toner |
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'Draconian efforts' possible to keep parent company running
By George P. Hassett
The
city's only hospital could close as a casualty of deep budget cuts for
its parent company, the Cambridge Health Alliance. Hospital officials,
however, say they are doing everything they can to keep Somerville
Hospital open.
In an interview with The Somerville News, health
alliance spokesman Doug Bailey said October budget cuts by Gov. Deval
Patrick could result in hospital and clinic closings and layoffs for
the Harvard-affiliated health care provider. He said health alliance
officials are hoping that some state funding is restored.
In
May, Cambridge Health Alliance announced Somerville Hospital would
close two units – intensive and transitional care – and shift all off
hour emergency surgeries to Cambridge Hospital in an effort to save
$4.9 million a year. The cuts claimed 32 jobs.
Bailey said the
future of Somerville Hospital remains "uncertain" and if Patrick's cuts
are not reversed, health alliance officials may have to resort to
"draconian efforts" to keep the company running.
Somerville
Hospital, he said, is not a top priority for closing. The health
alliance would have to give the state 90 days notice before they closed
the hospital.
David Schildmeier, a spokesman for the
Massachusetts Nurses Association, said closing Somerville Hospital
would be "devastating for the community."
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