Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham will close its only primary care practice in the city’s Downtown Crossing neighborhood on Dec. 18, a health system spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s Nov. 4.
A Mass General Brigham spokesperson told Becker’s that Mass General Brigham does not own the Downtown Crossing building. The closure is part of Boston’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, a project turning 35 office buildings into 463 new units, including 52 income-restricted units.
The location’s five primary care physicians, one nurse practitioner and patients will transition to other MGB primary care locations.
The spokesperson said there are no reductions tied to the primary care practice closure, which is driven by the building’s redevelopment.
The closure comes amid a string of challenges for the health system including a round of layoffs announced in October and an open-ended nurses strike slated to begin Nov. 12.
Mass General Brigham CEO Anne Klibanski, MD, told staff in a Nov. 2 email that the system is facing urgent financial challenges and must make improvements, The Boston Globe reported Nov. 3.
“I know that some decisions and changes will be difficult, particularly when they affect colleagues, teams, long-standing roles and programs that have been important parts of our organizations,” Dr. Klibanski wrote. “As all healthcare systems are changing, so must we.”
The email did not provide details on any specific changes, but a statement from the health system shared with Becker’s said: “While previous actions helped improve our financial position, our operating performance still requires broader structural changes. To strengthen our long-term sustainability, we must improve coordination across our hospitals and care settings, accelerating our transition to a more integrated model of care.
“These are difficult but necessary decisions to ensure we can continue providing exceptional care for patients, advancing research and education, and investing in the people and programs that are central to our mission. This work will be guided by our clinicians who are closest to patient care.”
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