Nearly 400 physicians at Hallmark Health System in Medford, Mass., have voted to join the physician network of Tufts Medical Center in Boston, leaving Partners HealthCare's physician organization after acquisition plans fell through.
Hallmark's 388 physicians voted to abandon the Partners Community Physician Organization and join the New England Quality Care Alliance, a network of nearly 1,800 physicians in Massachusetts. The agreement will be approved by Jan. 1, 2017.
The plans come nearly one month after Hallmark announced it will be acquired by the parent system of Tufts, Wellforce. The two-hospital system announced its intent to join Wellforce in late June following a failed acquisition by Partners HealthCare last year.
The largest health system in Massachusetts, Partners faced opposition from state regulators concerned the system would have too much market power, the Boston Globe reported.
Partners CEO Dr. David Torchiana told the Boston Globe they have ended plans to grow more in the state and will begin to look “regionally, nationally and internationally.”
In a prepared statement, a Hallmark spokesman said Hallmark and the New England Quality Care Alliance “share common values and a commitment to excellence, serving our communities and keeping care local.”
Partners Healthcare did not respond to a request for comment. The Partners Community Physician Organization represents more than 6,000 physicians. The 10-hospital system reported $11.7 billion in total revenue in 2015, according to the Modern Healthcare financial database.
