Tufts Medical Center and neighboring academic facility Boston Medical Center have announced talks to “explore a partnership.”
A deal would link two small rivals in Boston's crowded and fiercely competitive hospital market. Tufts Medical Center—which announced in October a newly created health system with Lowell (Mass.) General Hospital—has seen its market share hold steady at around 3%, according to recently published data for 2007 to 2011. BMC saw its market share fall from just above 6% to just below 5%. The medical centers compete directly with hospitals owned by Partners HealthCare, the largest system in Massachusetts.
Officials with Tufts and BMC declined interview requests, but in written statements officials said the prospective partners have a shared commitment to research and medical education.
“Bringing our strengths together could be very powerful and meaningful, and we look forward to continuing our conversations with BMC,” Tufts Medical Center spokeswoman Julie Jette said in a statement. Tufts Medical center is affiliated with Tufts University. Boston Medical Center is the teaching hospital for Boston University.
“Our two organizations have a rich history of developing innovative services and partnerships for patients,” said Jennifer Watson, BMC's vice president of communications and chief of staff, in a statement. “Like the rest of the healthcare community, we have considered strategic partnerships, and with (Tufts) we have recognized that the combination of our individual strengths could create a partnership uniquely positioned to improve healthcare in Massachusetts.”
