Compass Medical with clinics in E. Bridgewater, Taunton, Quincy, Easton abruptly closes
QUINCY — A Quincy-based chain of medical clinics and urgent care facilities with locations in Easton, East Bridgewater, Taunton, Quincy, Braintree and Middleboro said Wednesday it is abruptly closing all six of its offices “effective immediately.”
"It is with our deepest regret and great sadness to inform you of our imminent plan to close our practices. After a steady stream of challenges, we were ultimately forced to make the devastating decision to close all offices of Compass Medical effective immediately," Compass Medical posted in a written statement on its website Wednesday evening.
The statement said patients in need of immediate medical attention should go to an emergency room or other urgent care facility.
Patients with “emergent need of prescription refills” are advised to check with their pharmacies or call Compass at 508-350-2000.
“Please be advised that more information will be shared as it becomes available on our website. We will be adding information about how you can continue your care with your primary provider as we receive it,” the statement says.
A sign posted on Compass' Quincy Urgent Care facility Wednesday said the office was "temporarily closed" and directed patients to schedule an appointment at another location, WCVB is reporting. The sign said that Compass' East Bridgewater Urgent Care facility was open on a walk-in basis.
“There is no good way to share this news. We are heartbroken and truly sorry as we know the unprecedented impact on our valued patients,” Compass said in the statement on its website Wednesday.
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Compass ordered to pay $16 million to Steward Health Care
In October, the Patriot Ledger reported, that Compass was ordered to pay more than $16 million in damages to the Steward Health Care System for fraud after a partnership between the two companies turned ugly.
Compass had sued Steward — owner of the now-closed Quincy Medical Center, as well as Morton Hospital in Taunton and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton — for more than $80 million in damages, claiming that Steward had breached a services agreement by failing to pay bonuses to its doctors and rent for equipment and office space.
A Suffolk County jury, however, rejected all of Compass Medical’s claims, finding instead that it had committed fraud against Steward and awarding the Dallas-based company the damages it sought.
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WCVB reported Wednesday that several Compass patients said they are particularly concerned about access to their records and doctors.
"I am very frustrated, very angry and upset," said Jenn Newcomb, a patient. "I know it's a business that people do shut doors just like that, but you get nothing from anybody, not even a notice or something, a call."
With reporting by the Patriot Ledger
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Quincy-based Compass Medical closes all 6 Southeastern MA clinics
