Worcester, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Health and Gardner, Mass.-based Heywood Healthcare have called off merger plans, the Boston Business Journal reported Jan. 6.
The two systems signed a nonbinding letter of intent in May to explore an affiliation deal where Heywood would have become a member of UMass Memorial Health.
According to the report, UMass Memorial President and CEO Eric Dickson told employees in a Jan. 5 memo that "given changed circumstances and the difficult healthcare environment in which we all find ourselves, we decided reluctantly in December that this is not the time to pursue the corporate affiliation we initially considered."
Heywood President and CEO Win Brown said in May that the system was considering new strategic models "in order to assure continued access to outstanding local health services."