United States Senator Elizabeth Warren blasts Steward Health Care citing allegations of patient neglect

Boston, MA – Today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement regarding Steward Health Care:

“I am deeply concerned by Steward Health Care’s grave financial situation and appalled by allegations of patient neglect at Steward facilities. I organized a briefing for the congressional delegation to press Steward for answers on the status of its Massachusetts hospitals. Steward’s explanations for its failings do not add up. It’s clear that Steward executives put profits over patients and went to great lengths to hide critical information about its financial status from state officials, jeopardizing quality health care for the people of Massachusetts. My primary concern is the thousands of patients who face threats to care and the front-line health care workers whose jobs are at risk. I will continue investigating the decisions that led to this potential public health crisis.”

Last week, following a report indicating that Steward Health Care System (Steward) is in dire financial condition, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), William Keating (D-Mass.), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) pressed Steward to brief them on Steward’s financial position, the status of their Massachusetts facilities, and their plans to ensure the communities they serve are not abandoned.

“The abrupt closure of Steward’s Massachusetts hospitals would significantly limit access to inpatient critical care and inpatient behavioral health care, as well as maternal and newborn health services in eastern Massachusetts,” said the lawmakers. “The burden of Steward hospital closures would be borne primarily by the Massachusetts residents who already experience the greatest challenges accessing health care.”

While the lawmakers are glad to see reporting that indicates Steward officials are engaging in ongoing discussion with state officials, the lawmakers noted, “residents, workers, regulators, and elected officials must have a seat at the table for conversations about Steward’s plans for the future to ensure continued access to high quality medical care in their communities.”

Steward operates Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill and Methuen, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, New England Sinai Hospital, Norwood Hospital, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. The company employs more than 16,000 nurses, doctors, and other frontline, essential health care workers in Massachusetts. Currently, Steward’s Good Samaritan Hospital is the only acute care hospital in the Greater Brockton area.

According to NBC Boston, Steward issued a statement saying “Steward Health Care serves a patient population that are among the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable, and we are committed to continuing to care for them. We are committed to working productively with public officials to ensure that we can provide uninterrupted and high-quality care for the communities we serve.”