Boston Children’s to buy Franciscan in bid to improve mental-health care

Boston Children’s Hospital

Via The New England Council (newenglandcouncil.com)

“Boston Children’s Hospital plans to acquire Franciscan Children’s {hospital}, in Boston’s Brighton section. Through this acquisition, Boston Children’s Hospital hopes to improve its response time for children who are awaiting psychiatric treatment and expand the mental-health resources available to its patients.

“As the coronavirus pandemic persists, there has been a significant uptick in the number of patients receiving or waiting for inpatient psychiatric care at Boston Children’s Hospital. By joining forces, Boston Children’s Hospital can increase and diversify its mental-health resources offered to patients, expanding into services such as treatments for those with psychiatric disorders and developmental disorders. This acquisition would also allow for Boston Children’s hospital to better manage the increase in patients who seek treatment.

“Dr. James Mandell, chairman of the Franciscan Children’s board, recognizes that this plan would be mutually beneficial, as the acquisition would provide Franciscan Children’s with the opportunity to ‘better train and recruit staff,’ and ‘provide access to more patients.’’’