Taunton patients blindsided by Compass Medical's sudden closure, 'don't know what to do'
TAUNTON — Outside the Compass Medical office on Dean Street in Taunton a steady stream of now former patients went up to the front entrance of the facility Thursday morning and expressed a look of bewilderment when the door was locked and no lights were on.
They eventually noticed the taped letters on the doors and windows, holding the same message that can be found on the company’s website: All locations have closed permanently.
The 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.”
Several staff members of Compass Medical in Taunton, seen either sitting on nearby benches or going in and out of the employee side entrance of the building, wouldn’t give their names, but told the Taunton Daily Gazette they only received news of the closure yesterday, the day of. One stated they were completely blindsided by the announcement given that day.
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The patients who pulled up to the Taunton office all told the Gazette they received no prior notification from the company beforehand. Some said they had found out via news outlets the night before that Compass Medical locations were closing, but they didn’t realize the Taunton facility was already closed. Other residents said they had no idea until they went up to the front entrance.
Exclamations like “This is terrible,” “I’m heartbroken” and “I don’t know what to do” came out from residents while they stared at the locked-up entrance.
One elderly woman said the five years she’s been a patient with Compass Medical, they always provided satisfying care for her.
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Another was upset over the now lost physical exam he had scheduled for next week.
Several were concerned over how they were going to get copies of their medical records, as the letters taped on the entrance had no instructions for that.
The only information provided in the letters was a phone number to call for emergency prescription refills and test results, advice to seek out a local emergency room or urgent care facility if needed, and instructions to go to Compass Medical’s website for more information.
Can Compass Medical patients continue to see the same doctor?
In a prepared statement from Compass Medical, Board President Dr. Bruce Weinstein said, “We deeply regret the impact that Compass Medical P.C.’s closure will have on our patients and would like them to know that we are implementing a plan to ensure the continuity of their care. Most Compass physicians will continue to provide medical care in their local communities as part of other practices.”
How can Compass Medical patients get their medical records?
Patients needing a medical records request will find a link to fill out a form on the company’s homepage.
How can Compass Medical patients get a prescription refill?
Patients with “emergent need of prescription refills” are advised to check with their pharmacies or call Compass at 508-350-2000, according to the statement posted on Compass's website.
Why did Compass Medical close?
In its official statement given on its website, Compass Medical mentioned “a steady stream of challenges” which ultimately led to the “devastating decision to close all offices.”
While no representative from Compass could be reached to give reasons or an explanation of these “steady stream of challenges,” the Patriot Ledger reported last year on a lawsuit between Compass Medical and Steward Health Care System.,
Compass Medical 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.
Compass was ordered to pay $16 million in damages to Steward for fraud.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton: Patients blindsided by closure of Compass Medical clinic
