State imposes receiver on Northbridge rehab hospital

Three long-term care facilities owned by Blupoint Healthcare are under temporary receivership after state officials grew worried about staffing levels and poor quality of care, Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office announced Monday.

The facilities include Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation in South Hadley, Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation in Northbridge, and Mill Town Health and Rehabilitation in Amesbury.

"When new information revealed the possibility of dangerous understaffing and poor quality of care, my office and the Department of Public Health promptly filed an emergency petition and secured a temporary receiver," Campbell said in a statement. "Receivership will help stabilize the situation by taking control of finances and supporting daily operations, while protecting the welfare of residents and staff."

Blupoint Healthcare did not immediately respond to a News Service request for comment Monday afternoon.

A temporary receiver is needed to protect the health and safety of residents, maintain adequate staff and vendors, and ensure the "implementation of an orderly and safe closure of the Facilities and resident transfers over the coming weeks, if determined as necessary by the Receiver," according to the court order, dated July 19. A hearing on the case is scheduled in Suffolk Superior Court for Thursday morning, Campbell's office said.

Sen. Jake Oliveira and Rep. Dan Carey recently urged Campbell and Health and Human Services Kate Walsh to launch a joint investigation into the South Hadley nursing home, claiming that workers have gone unpaid for weeks and lack the necessary resources to properly care for residents. Oliveira, in a statement Friday night, said receivership "marks a critical step towards addressing the severe issues that have plagued this facility and others operated by this company."

"I commend the Attorney General's office for taking decisive action to protect some of our community's most vulnerable," Oliveira said. "Moving forward, our primary focus must be on ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of both the residents and the hardworking staff who care for them."

Earlier this month, nurses at Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation in Northbridge picketed, saying that had gone weeks without pay.