WBUR quotes David Williams on Compass Medical and CHA struggles
Compass Medical shut its doors without warning and Cambridge Health Alliance announced layoffs. Boston NPR station WBUR (What the sudden closure of Compass Medical means for patients —and the Mass. health care sector) called upon David Williams to explain what it means for these organizations, their patients, and the Massachusetts healthcare economy.
Without a Compass: Thousands of local patients are scrambling for a new doctor’s office, following the sudden closure of Compass Medical. The Quincy-based practice announced Wednesday it was immediately closing all six of its Massachusetts offices. “We are heartbroken and truly sorry as we know the unprecedented impact on our valued patients,” the 450-person company said in a statement.
Why? The statement cited a “steady stream of challenges,” but did not get into specifics. WCVB reports Compass still owes over $16 million in damages to Steward Health Care System after a partnership between the two companies went sour. In addition to the financial hit, Boston-based health care consultant David Williams told WBUR’s Fausto Menard that the legal battle and court order took a toll on Compass’s reputation. “People don’t want to do business with an entity like that,” he said.
