Care New England has announced that they will remain independent and not be pursuing another merger, and are not looking for a suitor who may still be interested in acquiring them.

It is a bit of news that, on the surface, may appear like a victory for a local hospital network staying local and resisting the negative ramifications of a buyout from an out-of-state giant. However, while state legislators have thankfully stymied the bleeding of Care New England in the short term through additional funding in the new budget, there remains no clear future forward for the state’s second biggest healthcare system to continue operations indefinitely.

Financial woes that have compounded in the wake of the pandemic are not going to magically vanish, unlike the temporary infusion of ARPA money that is now helping them stay afloat through turbulent waters. Technology and equipment that comprises the working core of its hospital system will continue to age, facilities will continue to deteriorate, and nothing short of a massive investment in these systems will bring about a true solution.

With Care New England’s announcement this past week regarding no mergers and no plans for its ultimate acquisition from elsewhere, it is a fair and obvious question to ask where exactly that investment will be coming from, if anywhere. Vague mentions of continuing collaboration with Lifespan and Brown are nice for a press release, but they don’t answer the ultimate, pressing questions either.

We would like nothing more than to see Care New England remain a viable and well-respected healthcare system with its facilities and employees based right here in Rhode Island, but a long-term solution to their financial problems must be fully explored before we are ready to sing the praises of short-term solutions such as the one recently announced.

The thousands of people who rely on Care New England for their health outcomes, and as their employer, deserve a full diagnosis and treatment plan, not just a band aid and a lollypop.

We are eager to see whoever replaces Dr. James Fanale as CEO, who skillfully navigated the system through the perils of Covid and secured a safe place for the time being will recognize, as Dr. Fanale has, that there’s a lot of work to be done.