Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | June 26, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 5 B R I E F S UMass Memorial needed to close psych beds The Massachusetts Department of Public Health in mid-June approved a plan from UMass Memorial Health Care to convert roughly half of the hospital's psychiatric beds into medical/surgical beds, despite opposition from the state nurses association, people in the community and the Worcester city council. The hospital said it needs the medical/surgical beds and can treat patients at other behavioral health hospitals by transporting them there. When polled, the majority of WBJ readers said they favored the move by UMass. F L A S H P O L L Canal District dirt parking lot to become $20M development The vacant dirt lot in Kelley Square, which has largely served as a parking lot for Crompton Place in the Canal District, will become a four-story build- ing with 48 apartments, a diner and a public market in late 2018. The 80,000-square-foot structure will be built in Kelley Square at 220 Harding St. and 152 Green St., the site of the annual Canal District Music Series, according to property owner Allen Fletcher. The project is expected to cost about $20 million. Fabcity Diner is expected to move into the edge of the building closest to Kelly Square. The building will complement the activity at the Canal District Farmers Market and at Crompton Collective, Fletcher said. Local vendors can sell their products at the public market. The building will have 72 parking spaces, but Fletcher said he is in talks with other property owners to increase available parking during busy times. Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in August. The lot has been vacant since 2011. Continued on next page Let us help your small business grow! • Business Succession Planning • Buy-Sell Review • Insurance Policy Review • Business Valuations • Life Insurance Needs • Retirement Planning We offer a variety of investment and benefit options including: To schedule a no-obligation consultation, please contact Jackie Sherman-Herne at 508-244-5170 or jsherman @ infinexgroup.com MNB Wealth Management is a trade name of The Milford National Bank and Trust Company. Brokerage services are offered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC., Member FINRA / SIPC. Investment and insurance products are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of value. Products and services made available through Infinex are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency of the United States and are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed or insured by any bank or bank affiliate. Infinex and The Milford National Bank and Trust Company are not affiliated. Do you support UMass Memorial's plan to convert psychiatric beds for medical/ surgical use? Yes. It's sad that the beds have to close, but the hospital needs the extra medical/surgical beds. 26% Yes. UMass Memorial has enough partnerships with other psychiatric hospitals and plans to expand its own to meet behavioral health needs. 43% COMMENTS: "When someone is in crisis, the last thing they need is to be transported to another location, away from their family, friends and support system." "There are other psychiatric beds available in Central Mass., and more being built. UMass Memo- rial needs additional med/ surg beds to accommodate the needs of trauma pa- tients and other patients needing complex care at the only Level 1 trauma center in Central Mass." "Having a child with mental health issues, I can tell you that there is no way we have enough beds for the needs of people seeking treatment for mental health. #stopthestigma" No. There is already insufficient access to mental health services, and we can't afford to cut any more beds. 14% The corner of Harding & Green streets in the Canal District will feature a mixed-use development. 4% No. Transporting patients to and from other facilities is going to hurt continuity of care.

• Cover