A Steward Health Care spokesperson confirmed today that Nashoba Valley Medical Center will close Saturday morning.
Deborah Chiaravalloti, replying to a Press query, said the hospital’s emergency room will shut down at 7 a.m.
Chiaravalloti also said that a basic life support and an advanced life support ambulance will be stationed at the hospital 24 hours for seven days to transport patients who arrive unaware of the ER’s closure. The coverage was requested by both the state Department of Public Health and the patient ombudsman appointed by the court overseeing Steward’s bankruptcy.
Texas-based Steward Health Care announced on July 26 that it would close the hospital Aug. 31, giving barely 36 days notice. State law requires 120 days notice, but lacks teeth.
A message posted today by Denise Holleran Moniz, a host of the “Save Nashoba Save Lives” Facebook Group, invites employees to meet at 6:30 a.m. to join the night shift as it exits the building. “Make a sign to carry [showing] how many years you’ve worked at Nashoba, and we will leave our hospital as we know it now, for the final time.”
Editor’s note: This is an evolving story. Watch this space for updates.
