Health

8 Health Care Resource Guide | 2017-2018 55 Sayles Street, Southbridge, MA 01550 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 508-764-2400 harringtonhospital.org The Cancer Center at Harrington provides treatment for oncologic and hematologic disease. Our services include: Infusion Therapy | Nutrition Counseling | Patient Navigator Pain Management | Lymphedema | Genetic Counseling The Cancer Center at Harrington Quality Cancer Care Close to Home Meet Our Providers Medical Director Christopher Seidler, M.D. is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who earned his medical degree at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, NJ. He has more than 20 years experience in cancer care. Yasser Rehman, M.D. is a board certified medical oncologist and hematologist who completed his internship and residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y. and a fellowship in oncology and hematology at Boston Medical Center. Donna Kentley, PA earned her Master of Science degree and Physician Assistant Certificate from Northeastern University, Bouve College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, MA. (Left to Right Dr. Rehman, Dr. Seidler and Donna Kentley, PA WBJ_CancerCenter_Ad2_Layout 1 10/11/2017 3:46 PM Page 1 operating loss that year, which Brown said was significant for an organization of its size. But Heywood has been profitable every year since, finishing in the black when other area hospitals lost money. Like Athol, Heywood Hospital's margins hover around 3 percent, "and that's a challenge to hang on to," Brown said. "Financially, we are solid, but there's limited resources like every other organization," Brown said. Staying independent Athol Hospital and Heywood Hospital are disproportionate share hospitals, meaning a large percentage of their patients are covered by Medicaid and Medicare insurance plans. Those contracts provide lower reimbursements than typical com- mercial insurance plans: 73 percent of Athol patients are covered by gov- ernment contracts, as are 64 percent of Heywood patients. The population of the North Quabbin and North Central Massachusetts regions they serve also have a high need for behavioral health services. While the system is actively investing in mental health and addiction treatment programs, those don't generate the same dollars that medical-surgical services do. Heywood has strong ties to Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester through clinical affiliations with their doctors, but Ken Pierce, a member of the Heywood Healthcare Board of Trustees and former chair- man who was involved in the merger talks, said the goal is to stay indepen- dent for as long as possible. "If we don't work for it in that direction, then it certainly will be swallowed up," Pierce said of the sys- tem. Sidestepping Saint Vincent Athol Hospital could have ended up under the ownership of Tenet Healthcare, the Dallas-based parent of Saint Vincent Hospital. A for- profit company, Tenet bought Saint Vincent Hospital and MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham in a $4.3-billion acquisition of Nashville- based Vanguard Health Systems in 2013. Brown said Heywood Hospital approached Athol about merging as Athol was in talks with Saint Vincent about being acquired, which would have put a major competitor with strong advantages in Heywood's backyard. "We made overtures to them and, lo and behold, they entertained a conversation with us," Brown said. He added former Saint Vincent CEO Erik Wexler recognized the potential for Heywood and Athol to partner and backed away. About 15 years earlier, Heywood and Athol had discussed merging, but Brown said talks weren't success- ful, partially because there was some rivalry between the communities. But that's changed. Pierce said the merger happened smoothly, after the two hospitals received speedy approval from the Department of Public Health. Pierce said the board of trustees works together seamlessly. Driving development Meanwhile, progress the system Brown said margins are steady but the system must be prudent about investing in services. Continued from page 6

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