Health

Lawrence General Hospital Nurses Plan Picket Tuesday Over ‘Stalled’ Contract Talks

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Lawrence General Hospital’s 550 registered nurses plan an informational picket Tuesday afternoon in front of the hospital as they say contract negotiations have “stalled over the nurses’ call for appropriate staffing, wages and health insurance benefits.”

Action by the nurses, who are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, is the first public demonstration since Lawrence General purchased Holy Family Hospital campuses last Oct. 1 in Haverhill and Methuen. “As frontline caregivers, we serve as a lifeline for this community, meeting patients in times of great crisis, when their very lives are on the line, yet it is getting harder and harder to be there for these vulnerable patients under the current working conditions,” said Laurie Spheekas, a longtime nurse and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit. “We are holding this picket to alert the community about the situation in the hopes that working together we can win an agreement that provides quality, community-based patient care.”

The picket takes place Tuesday, April 8, from 4-6 p.m., at Lawrence General Hospital, 1 General St., Lawrence. In a statement provided to WHAV, the hospital said Sunday, “Lawrence General Hospital is grateful for our nurses and the excellent, compassionate care they provide every day.

Haverhill

Lawrence General/Holy Family Names New Temporary CEO Following Leadership Tumult

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A state official that played a role in Massachusetts’ response to the bankruptcy of the parent of Holy Family Hospital has been named interim CEO of the hospitals in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. Former Tufts Medical Center President Diana L. Richardson becomes interim president and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital and its Holy Family Hospital April 14. She succeeds acting CEO Robin Hynds, a registered nurse who served as Lawrence General’s chief operating officer, who filled in following the abrupt resignation last month of President and CEO Abha Agrawal. “Her collaborative approach, thoughtful decision-making, and commitment to strong employee engagement will be essential as we continue to unify Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals into a regional health system that serves the Merrimack Valley,” Rosemarie Day, hospital board chair, said of Richardson in a press release. Richardson left Tufts Medical Center a year ago and, according to the release, was a “senior transition liaison with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health where she played a key role in the state’s incident command response to the Steward Health Care bankruptcy crisis.”

She previously was vice president of operations at UF Health—Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.

Business Bulletin

Drs. Jazmati and Ofman, Cardiologists, Join Community Medical Associates Practice

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Cardiologists Besher Jazmati and Peter Ofman have joined Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospital’s Community Medical Associates practice in Lawrence. They bring their years of heart health expertise and experience to the Lawrence community from their Nashoba Valley practices. Jazmati received his medical degree from Aleppo University in Syria and furthered his training in internal medicine at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I. Jazmati also studied nuclear medicine at the Harvard Joint Program of Nuclear Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital. His cardiology background includes training at the renowned Lown Cardiovascular Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. He has also worked in electrophysiology at Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

Haverhill

Haverhill’s Hannah Duston Healthcare Center Sells to N.J. Firm; Nursing Home Changes Name

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Hannah Duston Healthcare in Haverhill and Port Healthcare Center in Newburyport are among six nursing homes changing hands this week from Haverhill-based Whittier Health Network to Lakewood, N.J.-based Atlas Healthcare Group. New signs went up at Hannah Duston Healthcare, across the street from Haverhill High School on Monument Street, noting it is now known as Haverhill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. The transfers were expected as the company said in a December letter, signed by the Arcidi Family, that “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the change in ownership of the six Whittier skilled nursing facilities” and Atlas Healthcare would take over during mid-to-late March. “We believe Atlas will carry on the mission that our father, Dr. (Alfred L.) Arcidi, started so many years ago: to treat our patients, residents and staff as if they are family.” The letter accompanied filings for each nursing home with the Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification. Besides Hannah Duston and Port Healthcare, the company also sold Masconomet Healthcare Center, Topsfield; Nemasket Healthcare Center, Middleborough; Oak Knoll Healthcare Center, Framingham; and Sippican Healthcare Center, Marion.

Haverhill

Sen. Payano Calls Lawrence General CEO Shift ‘Unexpected,’ But Confident in Future

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State Sen. Pavel M. Payano said he is concerned about last week’s leadership shakeup at Lawrence General Hospital, but confident the hospital is strong enough to withstand this latest challenge. “Lawrence General Hospital’s leadership change was unexpected and brings a period of transition at a critical time for healthcare in our region,” Payano said Saturday in an interview with WHAV. “My priority is to ensure equitable and high-quality healthcare for residents of Haverhill, Lawrence and Methuen.”

Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Abha Agrawal stepped down last week after a year on the job and just under five months after buying the Haverhill and Methuen campuses of Holy Family from the bankrupt Steward Health Care. Payano pointed out that the state made a major investment to ensure that Lawrence General would be in a position to consummate the purchase of the two Holy Family campuses last fall. “I was among many people—citizen advocates, patients, hospital staff, other state legislators, city officials—who were very excited when we were able to save all three hospitals.

Haverhill

Lawrence General CEO’s Exit Takes Local Officials By Surprise; Hope for Former Holy Family Properties

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Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said she was surprised by the abrupt leadership shakeup at Lawrence General Hospital yesterday but is optimistic it will not interfere with the continued integration of Holy Family Haverhill with the Lawrence-based hospital to create a regional health system for the Merrimack Valley. Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Abha Agrawal stepped down after a year on the job and just under five months after buying the Haverhill and Methuen campuses of Holy Family from the bankrupt Steward Health Care. Agrawal and Lawrence General Hospital Board Chair Rosemarie Day confirmed Agrawal’s departure in a joint statement. “I am very appreciative of Dr. Agrawal for getting us to where we are now—a still open hospital in Haverhill,” Barrett said. “The board (of trustees) is strong so I am confident a good replacement will be found.”

Barrett said that immediately after learning of Agrawal’s decision to resign, she tried to reach Lane A. Glenn, the president of Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill who is also a member of the Lawrence General Hospital board of trustees for more information.

Haverhill

Person Most Credited with Saving Holy Family Hospital Resigns at Lawrence General

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The person most credited with salvaging Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and Haverhill following Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy has resigned at Lawrence General Hospital. Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Abha Agrawal stepped down after a year on the job and just under five months after buying the Haverhill and Methuen campuses of Holy Family. Robin Hynds, a registered nurse who served as chief operating officer, is now listed as acting CEO on Lawrence General’s website. Agrawal and Lawrence General Hospital Board Chair Rosemarie Day confirmed the abrupt leadership change today in a joint statement. “With mixed emotions, the board has accepted Dr. Abha Agrawal’s resignation from her position as President and CEO,” Day said.

Haverhill

Industry Peers Welcome Lawrence General Hospital’s Agrawal to State Association Board

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Dr. Abha Agrawal, the president CEO of Lawrence General Hospital who last fall successfully brought Holy Family Hospital under the institution’s fold, is being welcomed by her peers as a trustee of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. Agrawal was elected to the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association board of trustees Jan. 30. The organization serves as the voice for the Commonwealth’s hospitals, health systems and health care providers. “Dr. Agrawal has already made an immeasurable impact on her community just one year into her time at Lawrence General, and we know she will bring the same changemaking spirit to our board’s mission,” said MHA President and CEO Steve Walsh.