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Job fairs for employees of two Steward hospitals that are closing

Ahead of the closing of Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer later this month, state agencies are organizing a series of job fairs to help more than 1,200 workers who will lose their jobs. Dallas-based Steward Health Care announced in July that it planned to close the two hospitals as part of a bankruptcy proceeding. The struggling company is trying to sell its other Massachusetts hospitals. The first job fair was held Friday at both Steward-owned hospitals. Another is planned for Tuesday at both facilities. “This is really an opportunity for employees to ask questions about what's available to them,” said Alysia Ordway, state secretary of workforce development. The state has staff on site to help employees update resumes and connect with new employers. “It's all there, from entry-level positions like CNAs and medical assistants, skilled nurses, psychiatrists, there are definitely opportunities,” Ordway added. The Massachusetts Nurses Association says closing the hospitals will hurt staff and patients, and it wants lawmakers to do more to keep them open. “Because the DPH has declared this an essential service, we believe the state has the authority to declare a public health emergency,” said Katie Murphy, a representative for the association. With the closure scheduled for late August, the state's congressional delegation signed a letter urging Steward to pay employees severance pay and all paid vacation days. In it, it wrote, “We urge Steward to stop hiding behind the bankruptcy process and instead recognize and fulfill its obligations to its employees.” Nurses say the state should help hospitals stay open longer so a solution can be found. “When a service is deemed essential, we have an ethical obligation to fight for it until the last minute,” Murphy said. Steward is expected to set up a patient hotline starting Monday to answer questions about the closures and refer people to other health care providers.

BOSTON —

Ahead of the closure of Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer later this month, state agencies are organizing a series of job fairs to help more than 1,200 workers who will lose their jobs.

Dallas-based Steward Health Care announced in July that it plans to close the two hospitals as it files for bankruptcy. The troubled company is trying to sell its other Massachusetts hospitals.

The first job fair took place on Friday at both Steward hospitals. Another is planned for Tuesday at both facilities.

“This is really an opportunity for workers to ask questions about the options available to them,” said Alysia Ordway, undersecretary for workforce development.

The government has on-site staff to help workers update their resumes and connect with new employers.

“There's everything from entry-level positions like nursing assistants and medical assistants to registered nurses and psychiatrists. There are definitely a lot of opportunities,” Ordway added.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association believes that closing hospitals would hurt staff and patients, so it is calling on lawmakers to do more to keep hospitals open.

“Because the DPH has declared this an essential service, we believe the state has the authority to declare a public health emergency,” said Katie Murphy, a representative for the association.

Shortly before the bankruptcy was set to close in late August, the state's congressional delegation signed a letter calling on Steward to pay its workers severance pay and all paid vacation time. The letter states: “We urge Steward not to hide behind the bankruptcy process, but instead to recognize and fulfill its obligations to workers.”

Nurses say the government should help hospitals stay open longer so a solution can be found.

“If a service is deemed essential, we have an ethical obligation to fight for it until the last minute,” Murphy said.

Steward is expected to set up a patient hotline starting Monday to answer questions about the closures and refer people to other health care providers.

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