AYER, MA - Receiving an overwhelming show of support from residents to rezone 40 acres of land located behind the existing hospital for healthcare development, Nashoba Valley Medical Center is ready to move forward with necessary steps to build a new $50 million, 60-bed hospital, officials announced today.

Representing 96 percent approval, the vote count at Tuesday evening's Ayer Town Hall meeting totaled 118 ayes in favor of the rezoning proposal.  The approval marks an important first step in the new hospital's planning process.

"On behalf of the entire staff and administration at NVMC, we are grateful to the Ayer residents for their support as we move closer to building a new hospital that will enhance the medical care offered to the entire Nashoba Valley region.  This is a tremendous opportunity for us, as a provider of care, to grow alongside our expanding community," stated Steve Roach, interim CEO at Nashoba Valley Medical Center.

"We are now ready to design the hospital, which will be better suited to provide advanced technologies in a more spacious, accessible and convenient environment.  The support received this week from Ayer is critical to our success and will remain a key part of this entire process.  We look forward to continuing to engage community members as we navigate future developments."

NVMC staff expressed excitement Wednesday about potential opportunities for expansion as presented by a new building. 

Stated Chief Nursing Officer at NVMC Carol Conroy, RN, MSN, MBA, CNOR:  "As Nashoba plans for its future, a new hospital will allow us to recruit highly-skilled medical professionals, who will add to our already excellent staff.  This new, state-of-the-art hospital will enable us to cater to and provide more physicians, nurses and other healthcare team members with a premier environment in which to practice medicine, nursing and other disciplines, leading to more advanced and diverse avenues of care for this community."

Based on initial concept designs, the proposed hospital will include:

• 60 private rooms, each roughly 100 square feet larger than the existing double-occupancy rooms;
• A full-size pool equipped to provide aquatic therapy on-site;
• A new medical office building connected to the hospital that will house more physicians and provide more convenient access to the main hospital for testing;
• New England-style architecture, sound- and visual-blocking landscaping, and increased parking; and
• An expanded Emergency Department, more Operating Rooms, and additional programs that currently do not exist on site.

Next steps in the process include gaining approval from state and local officials, as well as community members, for a communications zone. This will enhance the exchange of internal information and secure communications with area emergency service providers. Hospital officials expect the planning process to last roughly a year. The last step in the process is receiving approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Construction will begin shortly thereafter.

Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Nashoba Valley Medical Center is an acute care hospital serving the health care needs of the Nashoba Valley. As a trusted member of the community since 1964, the hospital prides itself in providing high quality care and health education programs to the communities it serves. Nashoba Valley Medical Center is an affiliate of Essent Healthcare, Inc.

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