Business Strategy

Ahead of the closures of Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer at the end of the month, state officials are organizing a series of job fairs to assist more than 1,200 employees who will be losing their jobs. Dallas-based Steward Health Care announced in July that it planned to close the two hospitals amid bankruptcy proceedings. The troubled company is attempting to sell its other Massachusetts hospitals. The first job fair was held at both of the Steward-owned hospitals on Friday. Another is scheduled for Tuesday at each facility. “This is really an opportunity for employees to ask questions about what’s available to them,” said Alysia Ordway, the state’s undersecretary for workforce development.The state has staff on-site helping workers update resumes and connect with new employers.”It’s everything from entry-level roles like CNAs and medical assistants, skilled nurses, mental health clinicians. There are definitely opportunities to be had, for sure,” Ordway said.The Massachusetts Nurses Association says closing the hospitals will hurt workers and patients, and they want lawmakers to do more to keep them open.”Since DPH declared this an essential service, we believe the state has the power to declare a public health emergency,” said Katie Murphy, a representative of the association.With the closing set for the end of August, the state’s congressional delegation signed a letter urging Steward to pay out severance and all paid time off to workers, writing, “We urge Steward not to hide behind the bankruptcy process and to instead recognize and fulfill its obligations to its workers.”Nurses say the state should help the hospitals stay open longer so a solution can be found.”Ethically, if a service is considered essential, we are required to fight for that until the last minute,” Murphy said.Steward is expected to establish a patient assistance line starting Monday to answer questions about the closures and direct people to other health care providers.