MNA: Mass. DPH Deems Level II B Nursery at Tenet/Framingham Union Hospital an Essential Service "Necessary for Preserving Access and Health Status Within the Hospital's Service Area"

The DPH finding follows a jampacked public hearing where residents, policymakers, caregivers and community advocates turned out to deliver three hours of compelling testimony in unanimous opposition to Tenet's decision to close the specialty care nursery and compromise the safety of vulnerable  newborns in the Greater Framingham area

The DPH also highlights alternative plan raised by hospital staff and policymakers to maintain a Level IB Nursery, which would still provide a higher level of care and safety for newborns with more complex needs

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued its findings regarding Tenet/Framingham Union Hospital's (Tenet/FUH) controversial plan to close its Level II B Specialty Nursery Service, deeming the program an essential service "necessary for preserving access and health status within the hospital's service area." The specialty nursery is designed to care for newborns who are premature or require a higher level of care beyond what can be provided at the mother's bedside.  The full DPH letter can be found here or by contacting [email protected].

The DPH finding follows a jampacked public hearing on April 9th where residents, policymakers, caregivers and community advocates turned out to deliver close to three hours of compelling testimony in unanimous opposition to Tenet's decision to close the nursery and thus compromise the care and safety of newborns in the region.  This included strong testimony from Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, several members of the City Council, School Committee, the Framingham Board of Health as well as State Representatives Jack Lewis and Prescilla Sousa, including a strong letter opposing the decision from Senate President Karen Spilka, who also represents Framingham. 

"The DPH has made clear that our Level II B nursery is vital to protecting our community, and especially for the most vulnerable members of our community, who will stand to suffer the most if this center closes," said Ginny Ford, RN, a longtime nurse on the unit and member the Massachusetts Nurses Association Local Bargaining Unit at FUH. We serve a population of high-risk moms who need this level of care, and with the loss of this service, these folks will be forced to travel to Worcester or Boston for care they have always received here in this community,"

In making this determination the DPH is requiring Tenet/FUH to provide a detailed plan within 15 days that responds to all the concerns raised at the hearing, including how the hospital can ensure appropriate transportation for those who lack such access, accurate information on travel times for those placed at risk, how they intend to address numerous concerns raised about ensuring equitable access for vulnerable communities, and how they intend to provide 24/7 access to life-saving care to vulnerable newborns.  The DPH also calls into question the hospital's failure to recruit an adequate number of obstetricians to meet the needs of the community, as well as its failure to adequately communicate this change to those impacted by this change, with a call for Tenet/FUH to detail how patients will be notified about the potential loss of these services going forward. 

DPH Calls on Hospital to Consider Providing Level I B Nursery Service if Level II B is Closed

While advocating for continuation of the Level II B service, a number of those testifying, including nurses on the unit, also advocated for the DPH and the hospital to pursue an alternative Level I B Nursery should maintenance of the Level II B not be feasible.

Level II nurseries treat newborns greater than 32 weeks or those that are full term and require close monitoring of complex conditions. A Level IB nursery provides specialized care for newborns, including those born late pre-term (35 weeks and beyond) or with minor health issues.

The DPH findings acknowledge the call for maintaining some level of specialized service as recommended at the hearing, writing:

Based on testimony presented at the hearing on April 9, 2025, concern was expressed regarding the Hospital's plans to eliminate Level IIB services altogether rather than transitioning to Level IB which would require an advanced practitioner to be onsite. The plan which you are required to submit must include information on level change considerations as an alternative to the elimination of 12 Level IIB bassinets and what measures would be necessary to accomplish this.

The hearing and the DPH findings are part of the required process for the closure of any hospital service for the DPH to determine if this is an essential service for the community. Unfortunately, whatever finding is made by DPH, the agency lacks the ultimate authority to stop this or any closure of services.

"Our hope throughout this process is that, after seeing such a large and powerful outpouring of support for this service, and in light of the DPH's findings supporting our position, that Tenet will see the value of changing course, and will take steps to work with us to preserve this service for the community we are all here to serve and protect," concluded Ford.

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Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association