Brockton Hospital Delayed in Reopening with Building Infrastructure Improvements

Brockton Hospital, a key healthcare facility that serves patients across the region, will not reopen by June due to issues with heating and air conditioning units. The announcement came after the hospital discovered critical areas for improvement in its building infrastructure during the final phases of reopening following an electrical fire in February 2023. Hospital owners, Signature Healthcare, disclosed the setback on Tuesday and did not provide a new date for the hospital’s fully-operating status. Previously, Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan confirmed that the hospital would be fully reopened by June 2022, but the testing of the quarter-million-square-foot facility uncovered the problems with the new HVAC equipment and forced a delay.

Delay in Brockton Hospital’s Reopening

Brockton Hospital has experienced multiple setbacks, with heating and air conditioning units failing tests, forcing the healthcare facility’s delayed return to full service. Hospital officials discovered the critical areas of improvement during the final phases of reopening preparations that followed an electrical fire that took place in February of 2023.

The delay is a huge setback for Brockton’s residents and healthcare workers who are already grappling with a shortage of resources. It also comes at a difficult time for the hospital’s owners, who are already selling off eight Bay State hospitals operated by Steward Health Care, including Good Samaritan in Brockton, Morton in Taunton, and Saint Anne’s in Fall River. Steward Health Care, a Dallas-based, for-profit company, declared bankruptcy in June and has been seeking buyers for its hospitals.

Issues with Brockton Hospital’s Building Infrastructure

Upon testing the quarter-million-square-foot Brockton Hospital, critical areas of improvement were discovered. The tests revealed issues with the hospital’s new HVAC units. The hospital said in an emailed statement, “The procurement process for these units is underway, though the installation, testing, and inspection timeline is still being determined.” Hospital leaders stated that “diligent testing” of the entire hospital uncovered problems with the HVAC equipment in patient rooms, and that additional issues may be found as the hospital’s entire building is evaluated and tested.

Brockton Hospital’s Vice President for Communications and Marketing, Lorraine McGrath, stated that it would be “irresponsible” to confirm a timeline until all floors, all rooms, and all equipment are evaluated. She said that most of the hospital had been idle for the past 15 months and now can be evaluated and tested as the new electrical infrastructure has been installed, inspected and operational. “We need additional time to evaluate the entire building,” McGrath said.

Brockton Hospital’s Return to Full Service

Brockton Hospital’s full return to service is expected in 2024. Hospital officials did not provide a new date but remain committed to bringing back regular operations. The hospital management is in the process of completing the critical infrastructure improvements required to reach reopening goals.

Conclusion

Despite the delays, hospital officials remain optimistic that the required upgrades will be completed and that Brockton Hospital will return to full operations in the near future. Meantime, patients will need to continue accessing healthcare facilities in the region as the hospital works on its infrastructure improvements. It is unclear what the future holds for Steward Health Care’s eight Bay State hospitals, including Brockton Hospital.

Originally Post From https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/healthcare/2024/06/06/brockton-hospital-signature-healthcare-fire-closed-reopening-june-delayed/73988744007/

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