Morton Hospital opts to join for-profit Steward
The board of Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton has voted to join the growing for-profit hospital chain operated by Steward Health Care, according to Keith Hovan, president of the Southcoast hospital network. In doing so, the struggling community hospital turned down a competing offer from local nonprofit Southcoast, Hovan said. Morton notified his executive team of its decision this morning, he said.
"We really feel like we put a very fair and reasonable offer on the table,'' Hovan said. ''It seems like money talks.''
Morton and Steward officials would not comment on the deal, which still must be approved by the the state attorney general's office.
Steward, owned by Cerberus Capital Management, was set up to run the six former Caritas Christi hospitals.
