FRAMINGHAM SELECTMEN ARE RIGHT

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” (Acts 17:26)

At this Tuesday night’s meeting of the Framingham Board of Selectmen, the Board took a formal position opposing Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s plan to expand into Framingham. More accurately, they took a formal position against Partners Health Care, the owner of Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Partners Health Care wants to buy the former CompUSA store, located on Route 30 not far from the Natick line and MassPike Exit 13. The goal of Partners Health Care is to convert this building into several OPERATING ROOMS! At this point, they are trying to get the usage of the property changed from “retail” to being a non-profit health care facility.

Somehow, I think if Newton-Wellesley wanted to have some sort of clinic and/or doctors’ offices there, they MIGHT have a shot at that. I do think the entire operating rooms thing seems kind of bizarre. All they’d need is a logo of The Three Stooges as Drs. Howard, Fine, and Howard in front of that facility on that retail strip to make things complete!

Seriously, MetroWest Medical Center which operates the (for-profit) nearby Framingham Union Hospital in downtown Framingham AND the nearby Leonard Morse Hospital in South Natick is strongly opposing Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s plan to expand into Framingham. MetroWest Medical argues that there would be a duplication of services and that ultimately this would reduce the number of patients treated at Framingham Union and Leonard Morse and mean jobs lost from each hospital. Partners Health Care argues there is no room for them to expand at the present Newton-Wellesley Hospital facility in Newton.

I know some will be surprised that a person like me who is usually on the “conservative” and “free market” side of things would OPPOSE Newton-Wellesley expanding into Framingham, but I do think Newton-Wellesley coming into Town is mostly a BAD idea. I DO think it would be bad for our existing hospitals, and that this could ultimately lead to their demise. Community hospitals all over the country are closing left and right or being “consolidated” into bigger Medical facilities in which USUALLY the actual services provided at the local community hospital’s original location are greatly reduced.

Check out the story at:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x357829853/Framingham-selectmen-oppose-Newton-Wellesley-expansion-plan

This time, the Framingham Board of Selectmen got it RIGHT!