There will be layoffs and patients directed elsewhere when Lahey Health Primary Care of Haverhill closes in September.
The physicians’ office, 233 Lincoln Ave., River’s Edge Plaza, employs 10 people, including physicians, nurses and staff. The office closes Sept. 4 because of “the challenging health care environment,” Daniel J. Marra, Lahey’s senior manager of media relations, told WHAV Monday afternoon.
“Lahey Health recently conducted a comprehensive and thoughtful review of its primary care network of providers, and it was determined that, based on patient volumes and proximity to other primary care practices across the Lahey Health service area, it was prudent to consolidate some of our practices,” he said
Residents who rely on the office for primary care are being referred to other offices or providers.
“Dr. (Joseph) Costagliola will be relocating to Lahey Health Primary Care Wilmington, while Carla Kolesar, NP, will be relocating to Lahey Health Primary Care Ipswich. In addition to these two practices, we also have physicians in our Merrimac practice (Dr. Ray and Dr. Guidi) and our Amesbury practice (Dr. Roberts, Dr. Schissel, Dr. Schulman and Dr. Tlucko) that are accepting new patients. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause our patients and their families. We want to ensure the Haverhill community will continue to receive the highest quality care and hope that they join our providers at one of these new locations,” Marra said. He added, patients interested in selecting another provide may view profiles and find information at LaheyHealth.org/FindADoctor.
Lahey was founded by Haverhill physician Frank Howard Lahey (1880-1953). Dr. Lahey, one of the first inductees into the Haverhill Citizens Hall of Fame, founded the Lahey Clinic and, in papers only recently made public, Lahey predicted the imminent death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. The renowned surgeon was asked to provide a second opinion of Roosevelt’s health as the president campaigned for an unprecedented fourth term.
“I have told Admiral McIntire that I feel strongly that if he does accept another term, he had a very serious responsibility concerning who is the vice president. Admiral McIntire agrees with this and has, he states, so informed Mr. Roosevelt,” Lahey wrote in a confidential memorandum. The president privately replaced Vice President Henry A. Wallace on the ticket with Senator Harry S. Truman the day after the Lahey memo.
Lahey was president of the American Medical Association in 1941, head of the Army and Navy Procurement Board in World War II and was recognized for numerous contributions to medical practices and research.
His father owned the successful Fletcher and Lahey construction and quarry business, and asked his son to join the business. Lahey, however, went to Harvard Medical School and trained as a surgeon, served in World War I and then opened his own practice in 1926 in Kenmore Square, Boston.
David S. Van Dam, chief of staff to Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini, said recently the mayor is aware of the closing and tried unsuccessfully to keep the business in Haverhill.
Dr. Frank Lahey of Haverhill, sitting center, knew President Franklin D. Roosevelt would die in office.
This is not easy at all for people who go to the Lahey clinic. Now we either have to travel to Wilmington or Ipswich or find a new primary in town. I happen to like my Dr. Joe and Carla very much and I am truly unhappy about this decision! I am still trying to figure out what I’m going to do. 🙁
It’s Truly sad that we couldn’t attract them to stay the Lahey is not only a part of Haverhill it provided many of it’s Residents that didn’t have there own transportation this was a Coveint Health Facility.