Another independent Massachusetts acute care hospital appears about to merge with a larger system. The 89-bed Harrington Hospital in Southbridge announced last week that it has signed a letter of intent to be acquired by UMass Memorial Health Care, which currently operates UMass Memorial HealthAlliance–Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital, and UMass Memorial Medical Center.
Harrington President and CEO Ed Moore said that the UMass and Harrington systems’ missions and visions “strongly mirror” each other’s, and that the acquisition by the larger system would greatly help Harrington.
“Their geographic location is an obvious match for our current footprint; their advanced technology would be an asset to our infrastructure; and the investments they can offer will provide our community a stable, long-term plan for keeping healthcare local to south central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut,” Moore said.
The merger will have to be approved by state regulators and would not occur for at least six months.