Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital to Close

Aerial view of Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital. Photo: Crotched Mountain Foundation

The board of directors for Crotched Mountain Foundation in Greenfield, which provides services to individuals with disabilities and their families, voted to begin the process of closing the Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital, also in Greenfield.

The Specialty Hospital currently serves 30 patients and focuses its services on neurorehabilitation and other post acute treatment following accident or injury for people with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, spinal cord injuries and other conditions. A combination of factors—including reduced bed occupancy, rising costs and a limited reimbursement mix—led to mounting, unsustainable financial losses.

The board performed a comprehensive examination of all alternatives, including affiliations, mergers, operational adjustments and new lines of business. Ultimately, the board determined that winding down operations was the only feasible option. 

“This decision was not made lightly,” says Michael Coughlin, president and CEO of Crotched Mountain Foundation.  “It followed a comprehensive operational report from national consultants and a thorough examination of all alternatives.  In the end, we could not identify a sustainable financial solution nor continue to absorb the losses of the current program operation.”

The hospital closure is expected to affect approximately 130 Crotched Mountain staff, or about 12 percent of the organization's workforce. However, net job losses are expected to be less than 130 due to job opportunities within the rest of the organization. By law, impacted employees are given a 60-day notice. However, the complete patient discharge process and winding down of operations are expected to last at least 90 days.  

Other Crotched Mountain programs, including the Crotched Mountain School, Crotched Mountain ATECH, Crotched Mountain Community Care, Crotched Mountain Residential Services and the Outpatient Clinic, are not affected by this decision.

“Our top priority is to do right by our staff and our patients,” says Michael Redmond, chief of hospital. “Over the next three months, we will ensure all of our patients experience safe and smooth discharges. We are also working with our staff to help them with their transition to new employment, either here in one of our other operating divisions or elsewhere.”