A children’s rehabilitation hospital in Canton, Massachusetts, will relocate to the western part of the state, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Tuesday.The Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, which provides rehabilitation services for children with disabilities, will relocate to the campus of Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield.A review by the Department of Public Health determined that there was a need for a “more focused, modernized care model to serve the growing needs of children in Massachusetts with the most complex medical needs” and that Pappas apparently could no longer meet those requirements.”This gets back to aging infrastructure,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday. “You know, one of these places we can’t actually move more people in, because the conditions are really poor.”An email from Pappas was sent to the families of hospital patients informing them of the relocation and the next steps for current patients:”Over the coming weeks and months, we will work with all of you to find appropriate placements for each patient’s specific medical needs,” the hospital wrote. “That may mean a transfer to another sister hospital, nursing home, group home, or your home. Remaining patients who have not completed their hospital-level treatment may be transferred to Western Massachusetts Hospital.”Naomi Angoff-Chedd and her husband, Graham Chedd, are the parents of one of the patients at Pappas. The Chedd’s said they were so pleased with their daughter Kinsey’s 13 years at Pappas that they made a documentary film about the hospital narrated by actor Alan Alda.The family was shocked to learn of the state’s plans to close Pappas and transfer services and residents to the hospital in Westfield. “I think it’s tragic. I think it’s shameful that they’re going to do this. I think that this is a unique facility for kids with very complex special needs,” Angoff-Chedd said.Pappas is licensed for 60 beds. However, state officials say that currently, there are only about three dozen residents at the facility, with most approaching the age of 22 when they must move.”What we know is that many of those children actually could be better cared for, more safely cared for, more compassionately cared for at home,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said.Officials say a wing of the hospital in Westfield will be renovated and will offer services with better technology.The Massachusetts Nurses Association released a statement Tuesday condemning the announcement to close Pappas.”The Governor’s plan calls for the shuttering of this expansive facility dedicated solely to the care of children and young adults, and moving these clients to Western Mass Hospital in Westfield, one of the state’s public health hospitals that is already at over 90 percent capacity and serves a predominantly adult population with few of the specialized amenities and services provided by Pappas,” the association wrote in a statement.According to the Department of Public Health, the hospital relocation will also affect 225 current employees, as well as staff from several other organizations who work at the Canton location.The hospital will be relocated in 2025, with most of the transition happening in the fall, the department said.The state says it does not know yet what it will do with the soon-to-be former Pappas building, but confirms there are no plans to convert it into a shelter.
A children’s rehabilitation hospital in Canton, Massachusetts, will relocate to the western part of the state, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Tuesday.
The Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, which provides rehabilitation services for children with disabilities, will relocate to the campus of Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield.
A review by the Department of Public Health determined that there was a need for a “more focused, modernized care model to serve the growing needs of children in Massachusetts with the most complex medical needs” and that Pappas apparently could no longer meet those requirements.
“This gets back to aging infrastructure,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday. “You know, one of these places we can’t actually move more people in, because the conditions are really poor.”
An email from Pappas was sent to the families of hospital patients informing them of the relocation and the next steps for current patients:
“Over the coming weeks and months, we will work with all of you to find appropriate placements for each patient’s specific medical needs,” the hospital wrote. “That may mean a transfer to another sister hospital, nursing home, group home, or your home. Remaining patients who have not completed their hospital-level treatment may be transferred to Western Massachusetts Hospital.”
Naomi Angoff-Chedd and her husband, Graham Chedd, are the parents of one of the patients at Pappas. The Chedd’s said they were so pleased with their daughter Kinsey’s 13 years at Pappas that they made a documentary film about the hospital narrated by actor Alan Alda.
The family was shocked to learn of the state’s plans to close Pappas and transfer services and residents to the hospital in Westfield.
“I think it’s tragic. I think it’s shameful that they’re going to do this. I think that this is a unique facility for kids with very complex special needs,” Angoff-Chedd said.
Pappas is licensed for 60 beds. However, state officials say that currently, there are only about three dozen residents at the facility, with most approaching the age of 22 when they must move.
“What we know is that many of those children actually could be better cared for, more safely cared for, more compassionately cared for at home,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said.
Officials say a wing of the hospital in Westfield will be renovated and will offer services with better technology.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association released a statement Tuesday condemning the announcement to close Pappas.
“The Governor’s plan calls for the shuttering of this expansive facility dedicated solely to the care of children and young adults, and moving these clients to Western Mass Hospital in Westfield, one of the state’s public health hospitals that is already at over 90 percent capacity and serves a predominantly adult population with few of the specialized amenities and services provided by Pappas,” the association wrote in a statement.
According to the Department of Public Health, the hospital relocation will also affect 225 current employees, as well as staff from several other organizations who work at the Canton location.
The hospital will be relocated in 2025, with most of the transition happening in the fall, the department said.
The state says it does not know yet what it will do with the soon-to-be former Pappas building, but confirms there are no plans to convert it into a shelter.
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