51° and Light rain
Image
A new health care task force has been established, formed with the goal of reopening Norwood Hospital, announced Town of Norwood General Manager Tony Mazzucco on March 4th. Norwood Hospital, until its closure due to flooding in 2020, had been the closest hospital to many in Norwood and the surrounding area, including Westwood.
“We know that Norwood and the region relied on Norwood Hospital, which has been left in limbo for years due to flood damage and Steward’s mismanagement,” said Governor Maura Healey. The governor directed the group's formation, following a meeting with General Manager Mazzucco, Congressman Lynch, Senator Rush, and Representative Rogers, says the Town of Norwood in a press release.
The task force includes regional health care providers, public health officials, labor leaders, emergency service providers, community leaders, and government officials. They plan to first review health care needs of the community and then look to reopening the hospital with a new owner, according to Town of Norwood General Manager Tony Mazzucco.
"We need to find a viable operator with the capital to reopen Norwood Hospital," said General Manager Mazzucco. "This group will serve a single purpose - to make this happen."
State Senator Mike Rush and State Representative John Rogers, who are on the task force, will also be leading the Norwood Hospital Legislative Caucus. The caucus includes U.S. Congressman Stephen F. Lynch along with state Senators William J. Driscoll Jr and Paul R. Feeney, and state Representatives Paul McMurtry, Edward R. Phillips, William C. Galvin, Jeffrey N. Roy and Marcus S. Vaughn.
Task force members are:
- Jack McCarthy, retired Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)
- Rick Roche, Roche Brothers CEO
- Steve Costello, President, Bank of Canton
- Tim Bailey, Norwood Fire Chief
- John Rogers, Representative for 12th Norfolk District
- Michael Rush, State Senator for the Suffolk and Norfolk District
- Chris Padden, Norwood Police Chief
- Ernie Boch Jr., former CEO of Boch Enterprises
- Frank Callahan, President Mass Building and Trades Union
- Charles Doody, Canton Town Administrator and a retired Canton Fire Chief
- Rob Green, Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts Chief of Staff
- Bob Bower, Director of Workforce Development for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO
- Julie Pinkham, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Nurses Association
- Stacey Lane, Norwood Public Health Director
- Cari Medina, vice president for Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union
- Michael E. Boynton, Medway Town Manager
- Charlie Donohue, Former President and Co-Founder, HealthCare Value Management and BU School of Public Health Board Member
- Robert A. Cerasoli, a former state Representative, former Massachusetts Inspector General and founder of the Association of Inspectors General
- Dr. Chris Perkins, Internal Medicine specialist
- Mike Connors, retired CFO of Cape Cod Healthcare
The task force will be assisted by several subgroups, including a working group of medical professionals and providers, and a working group of hospital operations, planning, and management professionals.
Former Norwood Hospital Community Advisory Board Members George Usevich, Gerry Lorusso, Richard Vaughn, and Joan Jacobs will assist the task force with community organizing, advice, and guidance.
The Town of Norwood has created a website, FinishtheJobNorwood.com which contains information about the working group, a history of Norwood Hospital, and advocacy efforts.
