Legislators: Time for Partners to get specific about Union changes

LYNN – Union Hospital must have a 24-hour emergency room, said local state legislators, adding that proposed changes in the hospital’s operations could present owner Partners HealthCare with competition.”We’d be the largest city in the state without a full-service hospital. Perhaps it’s time to look at another provider if Partners doesn’t want to remain in Lynn,” said state Rep. Steven Walsh.Since announcing plans a month ago to move surgical beds from Union to Salem Hospital and triple the number of mental health beds in the Lynnfield Street medical complex, Partners executives have repeatedly vowed they are committed to keeping Union Hospital open and providing better health care.In an interview Wednesday, Walsh, state Reps. Robert Fennell and Donald Wong, and state Sen. Thomas M. McGee said some of the executives’ remarks are encouraging, but the four legislators and state Rep. Lori Ehrlich want to see Partners’ detailed plans for Union Hospital.”What we’re asking is, ?what exactly is the plan?’ We’re not saying we can’t get to ?yes,'” Walsh said.They said 24-hour emergency room urgent care access must be maintained at Union and said state officials who will review Partners’ plans will look closely at patient care concerns. McGee said legislators have asked Partners’ top executive to meet with them.”We, as a delegation, are having a pointed discussion with Gary Gottlieb about the specific plan,” McGee said.Partners in a statement issued prior to its Tuesday meeting with local elected officials and about 80 Lynn residents, noted hospital plans include “maintaining emergency services on both the Salem and Union campuses.””A full-time emergency room must be in any plan,” Walsh said.Partners executives, including North Shore Medical Center President Robert Norton, told people attending Tuesday’s meeting that moving mental health care from Medford and Salem to Lynn will help meet a growing demand for psychiatric care that leaves patients waiting for hours in emergency rooms.McGee said specific information about Partners’ plan must include information on who is admitted to Union Hospital’s expanded psychiatric unit and details on patient discharge plans.”There needs to be more honest, pointed discussion. There’s been some substantial concerns raised. It is in everyone’s interest that we come up with a common ground,” said McGee.Fennell and Wong, who represent residents living in neighborhoods around Union Hospital, said they are disappointed Partners did not meet with residents before unveiling its plans on Oct. 9.”This was the cart before the horse,” Fennell said.Fennell and McGee said it is important for hospital executives to meet with Police Chief Kevin Coppinger, who asked during Tuesday’s meeting at North Shore Community College for details on discharge policies for psychiatric patients treated at Union under Partners’ reorganization plan.Norton said discharge arrangements is “a conversation we need to have” with Coppinger.Walsh said he is encouraged by Norton’s statement at Tuesday’s meeting that Partners’ plans for Union could see additional revision. Hearing specifics about the hospital’s plans allows legislators to ensure residents get a chance to discuss the hospital reorganization in detail.”We need to see a final plan and what exactly that facility will look like, and then we have to talk about that plan with residents,” Walsh said.