March 16, 2023 :A Catholic-run healthcare system has drawn its application to affiliate with Day Kimball Healthcare, an autonomous, financially floundering hospital and healthcare system in northeastern Connecticut.
The Covenant Health’s decision to discontinue its agreement with Day Kimball in Putnam arrives weeks before the state’s Office of Health Strategy held a public hearing on the planned union.
“As detail of our due diligence as we prepared for the public hearing, we became conscious of new and latest information that resulted in our determination to not move forward,” stated Karen R. Sullivan, Vice president of marketing & chief communications official for Massachusetts-based Covenant Health.
This proposed merger had presented concerns among residents and Attorney General William Tong about the future of reproductive health and other assistance in the largely rural region of Connecticut that is at odds with the Ethical and Religious Directives established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This problem has come to light in other states as sufficiently.
Sullivan stated in an email that Covenant’s decision to withdraw its application “had frivolity to do with” the directives.
In a memo sent to workers, Day Kimball CEO Kyle Kramer said the hospital has begun “following the best path forward” and planned to work with local and state officers to preserve essential hospital services in the area, including “exploring conversations with other potential partners.” Like other healthcare providers, he reported that Covenant has faced financial ordeals since the pandemic, which may have contributed to its decision to revoke.