'Our community deserves better': Cancer care deal not enough to sway MetroWest Med critics

FRAMINGHAM — After nearly three months to ruminate on MetroWest Medical Center’s controversial plans to close some of its outpatient oncology services, dozens of community members came prepared to deliver scathing testimony at a state hearing Wednesday.

But in an 11th-hour change of course, MetroWest Medical Center’s corporate leadership announced that the hospital is in talks with Tufts Medicine to continue providing various oncology services at its Framingham campus.

The announcement — made during a state Department of Public Health hospital essential service closures hearing — marked the latest in a monthslong saga that has put the community hospital in the spotlight.

‘Our community deserves better’

Declining demand for oncology infusion and radiation oncology services contributed to MetroWest Medical Center’s decision to close those services and focus on other areas, according to Carolyn Jackson, CEO of the Massachusetts market for hospital owner Tenet Healthcare.

The original announcement in April drew condemnation from state and local leaders, who cited the impact on patients who cannot travel greater distances for treatment, either because they are too sick or cannot afford it.

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However, Jackson announced during Wednesday's hearing that the hospital is in exclusive negotiations for Tufts Medicine to provide oncology services at MetroWest Medical Center, with hematology oncology, radiation oncology and infusion services under discussion.

The services would be based at the Framingham Union Hospital campus and staffed through Tufts, though Tufts could opt to hire health care workers previously employed by MetroWest Medical Center, Jackson told the Daily News.

“Most importantly, MetroWest Medical Center is committed to ensuring this process is as seamless and as comfortable as possible for its patients,” she said in her remarks.

The news came as a welcome surprise for many who fought the proposed closures, though it was not enough to stave off criticism of Tenet’s long-term plans for the community hospital.

“I’m not an activist; I’m a doctor,” MWMC physician Dr. David Rishikof prefaced his remarks. Turning to hospital leadership, he cracked, “I’m not aware; has the ink dried on that agreement?”

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“Our ownership, Tenet, I don’t have a fight with them,” Rishikof continued. “But I will hold them to account, and I will hold them responsible for the decisions that they make.”

He attributed the decline in outpatient oncology visits to under-investment and under-resourcing on Tenet’s part.

“Our community deserves better,” Rishikof said. “Our community deserves to be close to home when they are treated for cancer.”

‘They saved my life’

Several current and former cancer patients spoke at the hearing, praising staff at MetroWest Medical Center and the care they provided.

Marlborough resident Ellen Goldsmith said she decided to check out MWMC after hearing that it was a regional destination for oncology, “and frankly, they saved my life.”

Goldsmith and her wife, the Rev. Doreen C. Noble, were both diagnosed with cancer in the same year.

“The possible closure for the cancer center was traumatic for us,” Noble said.

She added: “We both have a continued long fight ahead of us, but what was important was that we were able to have the support, we were able to be treated … with honor, with dignity.”

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Natick resident Kathleen Demko, a former nurse at MWMC, described the role the hospital’s cancer center has played for her brother, who has stage four renal cancer.

“Without the center here in Framingham, I don’t know how he will have hope,” she said.

Closing the services would pose significant risks to residents’ health and wellbeing, putting economic and emotional hardship on those forced to travel for care, Senate President Karen Spilka said.

“Anyone who has either faced a cancer diagnosis or has had a family member facing a cancer diagnosis knows that treatment is most effective when patients can receive it in their communities, close to loved ones and without the stress and the having to cope with difficult travel, as well as scheduling their appointments and all that is involved in between,” she said.

The potential partnership between MetroWest Medical Center and Tufts Medicine is “a critical step for our region,” she added, thanking the hospital for hearing the community’s feedback and adjusting course.

Community ties

Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky said he was still processing the news of the Tufts Medicine deal and hopes the plan is “as successful as it sounds.”

However, he went on to read the remarks he had prepared ahead of the hearing, taking Tenet to task for lackluster community relations.

“This latest development represents a further erosion of the hospital’s connection with the community,” he said. “The elimination of the blood bank, elimination of (in-house) interpretive services and the elimination of the community liaison are all symptoms of the parent company of MetroWest Medical Center turning its back on our community.”

Earlier in the meeting, Jackson announced that the hospital is reinstating its “often praised community relations liaison role” this summer, and that person will be tasked with ensuring MWMC’s new CEO, David Elgarico, is connected with key community figures and organizations.

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When it comes to a community hospital, those local ties are important, according to Framingham City Councilor John Stefanini.

There is a “deep commitment” to the hospital in Framingham, he said, urging Tenet to reach into the community to find support for its programs and services.

“We’re thrilled to hear about Tufts, … but we need to use this as a learning experience and hopefully encourage Tenet and the community to have a stronger voice through its hospital board, through its liaison, through its new CEO,” Stefanini said.

City Council President Philip Ottaviani similarly emphasized community engagement, saying of the Tufts deal, “This is great news, but Tenet needs to know where we are.”

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MetroWest Medical Center announces deal to keep cancer care local