Integration puts hospital on stronger financial footing while maintaining the same level of services at each hospital

Boston, MA, March 14, 2014 – Today, Steward Health Care System LLC (Steward) announced the integration of Merrimack Valley Hospital and Holy Family Hospital. Steward will file an application with the Department of Public Health to add Merrimack Valley Hospital to the Holy Family Hospital license. The approval process is expected to take several months.

“After careful consideration, we determined that it is in the best interest of our patients, our employees and the surrounding communities to bring Merrimack Valley Hospital and Holy Family Hospital closer together,” said Mark Girard, MD, President of Steward Health Care Company.

The Commonwealth’s health care cost containment law (Chapter 224) and federal budget sequestration require hospitals to better manage costs. This integration puts Merrimack Valley and Holy Family Hospital on stronger financial footing while maintaining the same level of acute care services offered at their current locations. The two hospitals already share an integrated leadership team so this is an extension of a successful partnership between the two hospitals.

“From an employee and patient perspective, this will be a seamless transition. All acute-care services will continue to be offered at their current locations. Steward remains committed to the communities served by Merrimack Valley and Holy Family Hospitals,” added Lester Schindel, President of Holy Family Hospital and Merrimack Valley Hospital.

About Steward Health Care

Steward Health Care is the largest fully integrated community care organization and community hospital network in New England. Headquartered in Boston, Steward is the third largest employer in MA with more than 17,000 employees serving more than one million patients annually in more than 150 communities. Hospitals in the system include Saint Anne’s in Fall River, Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Norwood Hospital, Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Quincy Medical Center and New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton. Other Steward Health Care entities include Steward Medical Group and Steward Home Care. Further information is available at www.steward.org.