Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1514652
wbjournal.com | January 22, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 7 November report, including updating regulations for birth centers, spurred by a wave of facility closures in recent years. But ensuring enough funding and providers could pose barriers to the state's efforts, a maternal fetal medicine expert indicated. e Department of Public Health is working to im- plement a new classification system into its hospital licensing regulations, which would specify the types of facilities that are suited to treat pregnant patients depending on their risk levels, said Beth Buxton, di- rector of DPH's maternal and infant health initiatives. e framework provides five levels of maternal care (LoMC), with higher levels indicating patients face heightened risk due to various health conditions, such as asthma, maternal cardiac disease or autoim- mune disorders. e guidelines, based on national health care standards, are "designed to promote col- laboration among maternal facilities and health care providers with the goal that pregnant patients receive care at a facility appropriate for their risk," according to DPH's maternal health report. Study: Worcester area has 8th oldest housing stock in country for midsize metros Prospective home buyers in the Worcester region who are looking for homes built aer 1970 may be facing an uphill battle, as a study has found the Great- er Worcester metro area has the nation's eighth oldest housing stock among all midsize metropolitan areas. e study, conducted by Construction Coverage and released Jan. 12, a construction-focused research firm based in San Diego, found that the median age of Worcester-area homes is 55 years, with half of the region's housing stock having been built before 1967. is median figure is 14 years older than the nation- wide number of 41 years. e age of Worcester's housing stock is not unique to southern New England. Construction Coverage ranked the Greater Springfield metro area second on its list, with a median age of 61 years. e list of large metropolitan areas with the oldest housing stock ranked the Providence-Warwick metro area as having the fourth oldest stock with a median age of 60 years, while the Greater Boston metro area ranked sixth with a median age of 58 years. Massachusetts ranks 3rd amongst states with the oldest housing stocks with a median age of 58 years. Only New York and Rhode Island rank higher. 508-757-3311 • www.sgllp.com Worcester Framingham Your Business is Our Top Priority At S&G we know business moves quickly, and your business needs reliable partners to guide you through many of today's complex business, financial and tax situations. Your business will always be our top priority. At S&G we have the knowledge, technical expertise and experience to get the job done. Combine that with our "Awesome Service Guarantee" - our commitment to customer care and personal attention - and you'll see why S&G has become the partner of choice for so many winning organizations. • Accounting & Tax Services • Business Consulting • Business Transition & Exit Planning • M&A Advisory • Financial Services • Retirement Planning Today, profitability protection is a first priority. With our knowledge, technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and experience behind you, you'll have the tools, resources and services to successfully navigate through the rough waters that lay ahead. For more information, or to set up your no obligation initial consultation, please contact us today. UMass Memorial HealthAlliance hospital in Leominster, where the birthing center was closed last year W