Tufts Aims For 2023 Takeover Of Framingham MetroWest Cancer Center

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Tenet Healthcare, the company that operates the MetroWest Cancer Care Center in Framingham, is set to transfer operations of the cancer center to Tufts Medicine sometime in 2023, officials from both parties said in a joint statement on Thursday.

Both parties said there is "continued progress in their plans to ensure that cancer services remain open in Framingham without any disruption to care in the community."

According to the news release, MetroWest Medical Center plans to transition the operation of the cancer center to Tufts Medicine. Pending state regulatory approvals, the transition is expected to be completed in early 2023.

During and after the transition, officials say the cancer center will continue to provide medical oncology and radiation oncology services for more than a thousand patients primarily from Framingham, Marlborough and Natick.

Cancer care at MetroWest will continue to specialize in breast cancer, gynecologic oncology, and men’s health, and those services will continue in the same location. Tufts Medical Center hopes to add surgical oncology on-site at MetroWest Medical Center, allowing patients in the area to receive treatment closer to home.

Tufts Medicine has long-standing relationships with physicians in the MetroWest community. One of the largest groups of physicians in the area, the MetroWest Healthcare Alliance, has been participating in the planning process, officials said.

“We are pleased that we have found a respected provider such as Tufts Medicine to partner with us to continue to provide quality oncology care at MetroWest,” Carolyn Jackson, CEO of Saint Vincent Hospital and the Massachusetts Market, which includes MetroWest, said. “The completion of our agreement will ensure the continuation of these important services in the region, providing patients with quality care close to their homes.”

This comes after Tenet Healthcare, a multinational healthcare company based in Dallas, Texas that owns the facility, had proposed to cut some oncology services.

Read more: MetroWest Medical Center Oncology Cuts Halted By Tufts Negotiations

Tenet and Tufts have been in discussions to turn over operations at least since July, when a meeting with the state Department of Health was held in Framingham, and after a public outcry from healthcare professionals and politicians alike.

The reception of the change in operational leadership has been met with praise from many of those same community stakeholders.

"I am pleased these critical services will remain in our community, so that patients fighting cancer can focus on what’s most important. I thank our community doctors and partners at Tufts Medicine and MetroWest for doing all they can to keep care in the community," said State Representative Jack Lewis (D-Framingham).

Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky added:

“I am pleased that MetroWest Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center were able to reach an agreement that will keep the oncology center open. This is a major victory for Framingham residents in need of the many services at the center. The City looks forward to a close partnership with both MetroWest Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center.”