Beth Israel, Milton Hospital finalize agreement expanding clinical affiliation

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a 621-bed hospital in Boston, and Milton (Mass.) Hospital said they finalized an agreement that expands their clinical affiliation and renames Milton Hospital as Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton.

As part of the agreement, Beth Israel Deaconess will increase its membership on the Milton Hospital board to three members and the chair of Milton Hospital's board of directors will become a member of the Beth Israel Deaconess board, according to a news release. The agreement went into effect Jan. 1.

The 82-bed Milton Hospital retains its license, board of directors, medical staff and senior leadership although some senior executives will have new reporting relationships to Beth Israel Deaconess, the hospitals said.

“This new agreement cements the already-strong commitment between the two hospitals,” said Milton Hosiptal CEO Joseph Morrissey in the news release. “It allows Milton to become part of BIDMC's large healthcare delivery system.”

The organizations first developed a clinical affiliation in 2003. Last year, they announced the terms of a new tentative agreement that would allow Milton Hospital to retain its board of directors and day-to-day oversight of operations and strategic planning efforts, while Beth Israel Deaconess would provide investments that would support Milton Hospital's physician network and clinical capabilities.