Changes are set to go into effect March 1, according to a statement from Mass General Brigham.
Ray Ewing

Mass General Brigham Centralizes Management Structure

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.

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
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.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/24/2023 - 20:04

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John Crelan Oak Bluffs

All hospitals should meet the needs of their community.
Prior to Covid MV hospital had a dental clinic which has since disappeared.
Most islanders are retirees on a fixed income.
Their needs and those of many others trying to live on low paying jobs
need the Dental Clinic back.

Shimmy Mehta Edgartown

Island Health Care, the Federally Qualified Health Center that ran TestMV during Covid is currently in the process of constructing a new safety net Dental Center in Edgartown that will provide Islanders with with access to quality preventative and restorative dental services. It is expected to open in late Fall of this year.

anne sylvester 0ak bluffs

Shutting down the hospital dental clinic was a real slap in the face to Island seniors. Help is on the way from Island Health Care; they are setting a dental clinic. No time frame yet on opening date.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/25/2023 - 01:25

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Diane nelson

So…what they are saying is that hospitals don’t need overpaid administrators. That’s what nurses have been saying.

Bob Edgartown

Exactly the problem with the hospitals, with government and the school systems. There are too many middle people in between those who need care, and those who give care those who teach, and those who need to learn buying your drugs and the drug manufacturer. The middle person in our society adds huge cost to everything and provides very little.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/25/2023 - 11:35

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Lawrence MV Summer, NY Winter

All hospitals face the same situation post Covid. Tight and more expensive supplies, major nurse shortage and in general higher employee payments. I have heard that 60% of hospitals in the NY metro area lost money in 2022. So this is nothing crazy MV - have no fear.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/25/2023 - 14:25

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Bob Columbia s.c.

Consolidation has always cost the patient more. Maybe these hospitals should each provide a profit or close.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/27/2023 - 08:00

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John Aldeborgh Katama

It’s hard to imagine how these hospitals lose money given the prices we pay for the services we receive. Personally, my wife and I, as former summer residents turned full time residents in retirement, use Boston area based healthcare providers because of the quality and availability of healthcare on the island. Affordable comprehensive healthcare is arguably not available on island, which is surprising given the affluence of the island as well as the proximity to Boston, not to mention being part of Partners Healthcare.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/28/2023 - 08:48

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Gabrielle West Tisbury

There should be a county position that reports to the commisioners to ensure that the needs of islanders are being addressed.

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