After reporting a $432 million operating loss for the last fiscal year, Boston-based Mass General Brigham is taking steps to centralize management of its six community hospitals, including Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, in what it describes as an effort to improve efficiency and streamline costs.
Denise Schepici, who was hired as CEO and president of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in 2018, will become the Island hospital’s president and chief operating officer, reporting to a pair of Mass General Brigham officials who will oversee all the community hospitals owned by the healthcare giant. The changes, which also affect Nantucket Cottage Hospital, are set to go into effect March 1, according to a statement from Mass General Brigham.
“This new structure will provide more coordinated, accessible care for patients, enable sharing of best practices in quality and safety, and streamline hospital operations across the divisions,” the statement said. “Recent challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing capacity crises have demonstrated the need for close strategic coordination among our hospitals to more effectively serve our communities and these changes will help us meet these goals and provide the very best in patient care.”
In an email to the Gazette on Tuesday, Ms. Schepici said that there would be no practical changes at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital other than different job titles across the system.
“We remain a very tight operating and leadership team here at MVH and [Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center] committed to bringing the highest level and best patient care to our community,” she said.
Denise Schepici will now report to Gregg Meyer, the president of the Mass General Brigham community division, and David Roberts, the division’s vice president.
— Mark Alan Lovewell
A call to Dr. Michael Jaff, chairman of the hospital’s board of trustees, was not immediately returned.
The management restructuring comes as the health care system, the largest in Massachusetts, is facing historic challenges, including rising costs and workforce shortages. In December, after announcing the largest operating loss in its history, the nonprofit said it planned to cut costs by identifying administrative efficiencies that wouldn’t impact patient care.
Under the new organization, Ms. Schepici will report to Gregg Meyer, the president of the Mass General Brigham community division, and David Roberts, the division’s vice president. In his newly created position, Mr. Roberts, now the president of Salem Hospital, will oversee operations, facilities, programs, capital planning, new initiatives, clinical expansion, staffing and financial performance. Dr. Meyer, the former chief clinical officer for Mass General Brigham, will handle board and medical affairs, community relations and philanthropy.
In a recent email to his colleagues provided to the Gazette by Mass General Brigham, Dr. Meyer wrote that further details on the rollout of the reorganization and its effects on each individual organization would come from local leaders.
“We are excited about the future and know these changes will allow us to achieve more rapid and effective decision-making in service to the millions of patients who rely on Massachusetts General Brigham for care,” he wrote.
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital was acquired by Massachusetts General Hospital, now Mass General Brigham, and its parent company Partners Health Care in 2006, ending more than 80 years as an independent hospital.
The healthcare system is in the midst of a major rebranding effort. In early December, the name on the hospital’s website changed from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to Mass General Brigham Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
