On January 21, the Healy administration announced the closure of the 60-bed Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children located in Canton. The hospital offers medical, rehabilitative, educational, and recreational services for individuals with "severe" physical and cognitive disabilities and other conditions.
The Pappas programs will be moved to the 87-bed Western Massachusetts Hospital (WMH) in Westfield. The plan is to create a specialty unit for children at WMH, including a 25-bed dedicated pediatric care program.
Pappas currently has 36 patients, including more than half who are over age 18 and awaiting discharge to "more appropriate settings." Some of the patients currently at Pappas will end up at WMH and others could be transferred to other facilities across the state.
The relocation process will occur throughout the year, with most transitions scheduled for the fall.