CLINTON – The state’s largest nursing union Monday accused Clinton Hospital of breaking state regulations last week in its announced closing of its gastrointestinal unit.
The hospital denied the charge, while the state Department of Public Health, which administers the regulations, was not available for comment because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Last week, the hospital announced that the gastrointestinal unit, which the union says provides endoscopies and other services to hundreds of patients per year, was closing Jan. 26.
According to the union, the closure will cause the layoff of six registered nurses, a licensed practical nurse and other support staff.
Deborah Weymouth, the hospital’s president and CEO, told The Item of Clinton last week that the closing was the result of a staffing issue prompted by the resignation of the unit’s four doctors following scheduling difficulties.
Monday, the nurse’s union alleged the decision broke state regulations surrounding timing and community input. It contends the hospital had an obligation to inform DPH of the closure 90 days beforehand so that a public hearing could be held to determine whether the service is “essential” enough to require a “detailed plan” for how it will be delivered going forward.
“(Hospital) management informed the nurses of their intent to close the unit last week and informed the (union) that they had no obligation to notify the DPH of the closure and planned to proceed with the closure as of Jan. 26,” the union wrote, going on to cite state regulations it believes show the law was not followed.
Specifically, the union said the endoscopy service is subject to an “essential service review” under state regulations. It said that since the nearest such service is more than five miles away and outside the hospital ZIP code, the hospital needed to inform DPH and hold a public hearing.
Asked for comment Monday, Kelli Rooney, the hospital’s director of marketing and communications, wrote in an email the hospital is confident it has “complied with all DPH requirements as well as other applicable laws and regulations.”
Asked for a more detailed response to the specific concerns raised, Ms. Rooney issued a similar statement that indicated the hospital had performed a legal review of the changes.
“UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital determined this change was necessary due to changes in physician staffing, and the space will continue to be used for other services,” Ms. Rooney wrote in her original email. "We strive to align our programs and resources carefully. Our number one goal is meeting the health needs of our community in a sustainable manner now and into the future."
The union press release quoted Louise Fusco, a nurse in the unit for more than 15 years, calling the elimination of the GI program a “disservice” to the community.
“We were surprised by the announcement, as there has been an effort in recent years to enhance this service, with the purchase of the latest equipment, and expanded demand for endoscopy services by our patient population,” Ms. Fusco is quoted as saying.
The union called the endoscopy service “an essential program for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer and other serious gastro-intestinal conditions that serves several hundred patients each year.”
The union said the scope of the program had expanded before Clinton Hospital announced a merger with UMass Health Alliance in fall 2016.
“Last fall the hospital announced plans to stop infusion services in their day surgery center, and now they have continued their dismantling of services by closing the endoscopy service,” the union wrote.
Maryellen Thompson, chair of the local bargaining unit of the Massachusetts Nurses Association at Clinton Hospital, said nurses are “concerned that UMass Health Alliance is attempting to consolidate services at other facilities, depriving our community of needed services and forcing them to travel a longer distance for care.”
The hospital is hosting a public forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Clinton Town Hall to discuss the changes. MNA said several nurses intend to attend.
Contact Brad Petrishen at brad.petrishen@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @BPetrishenTG.