January 2019

Update from Lawrence Memorial Hospital (added 1/23/19)

We received a response from the Department of Public Health (DPH) regarding the proposed closure of the satellite emergency facility at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford.

As expected, DPH has asked for some additional information affirming that the needs and safety of the community will be met by the greater-area’s multiple emergency departments, local, sophisticated EMS system, as well as the extended urgent care services at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

We will be providing the requested information back to the DPH within 15 days. The expected date of closure is March 7, 2019.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital is committed to providing the right level of care in the community through our proposed expanded urgent care hours, and in working closely with our EMS partners, we are developing appropriate transition planning, that will include community-wide communication, and collaboration with the seven emergency departments that will continue to provide the community with access to emergency services.

Presentation to Medford City Council Jan. 15, 2019 (added 1/17/19)

On January 15, 2019,  we presented to the Medford City Council. Our presentation was primarily the same presentation shared at the community-wide meeting on Dec. 12, 2018, including the preliminary information from the traffic and parking studies. Slide presentation attached here.

As always, if you have any questions, please let us know.

Approval by Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Public Health Council (added 1/10/19)

We are writing to let you know that today the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Public Health Council approved our request for the building of the Ambulatory Surgery Center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in partnership with highly respected Shields Health Care and Tufts Medical Center Physicians. The state approval affirms the assessment of need for such services in this community. This approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is separate from the permitting process of the City of Medford.

The Ambulatory Surgery Center will provide local access for patients to outpatient procedures in a number of specialties, including but not limited to ear, nose and throat; orthopedic and sports medicine; as well as GI procedures. And, with the Ambulatory Surgery Center comes plans to bring more physician practices to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital itself, including internal medicine, family medicine, cardiology, and women’s health, in addition to expanded urgent care.

We look forward to continuing our work with the community through the City’s permitting process to bring this important resource to Medford and the region as a whole.

Reminder: City Council Meeting – January 15, 2019 (added 1/8/19)

We are providing a reminder of next week’s City Council meeting:

• Medford City Council, January 15, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Medford City Hall

We have been invited to provide an update to the City Council on our process thus far regarding the proposed ambulatory surgery center.