As a bankruptcy court judge Wednesday approved the sales of most Steward Health Care hospitals, Lawrence General Hospital told employees and physicians it is poised to take operational control of Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen in less than a month.
Officials welcomed staff and the public in messages on Lawrence General Hospital’s website.
“This is an historic moment for health care and for all of us in the Merrimack Valley as patients, community members, employees, providers and community partners are going to be part of something profound. For Lawrence General, as a non-profit, independent community hospital, we are motivated by our mission to provide quality care and lead from the heart. That’s what our patients deserve. That’s what our providers and employees deserve. That’s what our community partners deserve. That’s what we intend to deliver for the region.”
Hospital officials plan “town meetings” to answer questions from employees and physicians Thursday afternoon during separate sessions at the two Holy Family campuses. The first takes place at 2 p.m., at the Methuen campus, and the other at 4 p.m. at the Haverhill campus. Employees of either campus may attend any session. They said Lawrence General is “working through” “many transition details” and promised to provide regular updates. Chief Medical Officer George Kondylis will field doctor’s questions and other queries may be emailed to [email protected].
“We are so excited to work with all of you as we reimagine the delivery of health care to the Merrimack Valley. As we work towards that vision, you have our commitment to honor Holy Family Hospital’s long and rich history in providing excellent care to its communities, to celebrate the incredible opportunity in front of all of us and to embrace the future as we work together to build a true regional health care system in the Merrimack Valley.”
Meanwhile, both Steward Health Care’s and Massachusetts state lawyers successfully urged approval of the sales during a hearing Wednesday before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez.
“This sale needs to happen, and it will happen,” Lopez ruled in Houston, Texas. “What I am saying is you’re going to be authorized to sell it, but I’m going to withhold $17 million bucks, which is the short funding shortfall.” Lopez took into account the objections of some who are owed money, and argued the principle of “first in, last out” was overlooked as Steward’s landlord stands to benefit.
Besides the sales of Holy Family Hospital campuses to Lawrence General Hospital for $28 million, Lopez signed off on selling St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton to Lifespan for $175 million and Good Samaritan Medical Center and St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center to Boston Medical Center for as much as $140 million.
Andrew Troop, the state’s lawyer from the New York office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said Massachusetts “has tried to do its fair share” to get the deals to the point of seeking court approval, including advancing Steward $30 million to pay for operations in August and, pending court approval Wednesday, providing the company another $42 million to keep the hospitals afloat until the sales close, possibly on Sept. 30.
Candace Arthur, one of Steward’s lawyers from the firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, added “each transaction before you today is the highest or best that the debtors are able to achieve.”
State House News Service’s Colin A. Young contributed to this report.