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An Overview of Athol Hospital

Happy female patient in bed and nurse with stethoscope

Athol Hospital is a Critical Access, non-profit acute care hospital serving the nine communities of the North Quabbin Region. The hospital’s service area includes the towns of Athol, Erving, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick, and Wendell. The hospital opened its doors in 1950, the result of the efforts of community and business leaders to establish a local hospital to serve the healthcare needs of the region. Land was donated by the family of Addison Sawyer, an inventor whose residence once stood where the hospital building is now located. The hospital was originally named Athol Memorial Hospital to honor the sons of Athol who gave their lives in World War II. A plaque of their names remains on the wall of the Main Lobby.

In 2013, the hospital partnered with Heywood Hospital to form Heywood Healthcare, community-owned healthcare system serving north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire,comprised of Heywood Hospital, a 134-bed acute care community-owned non-profit hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25-bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; and Heywood Medical Group, with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region.

In addition Heywood Healthcare includes nine satellite facilities in MA: Ashburnham Family Medicine in Ashburnham, Heywood Rehabilitation Center, Summit Family Medicine & Heywood Primary Care and Urgent Care in Gardner, The Winchendon Health Center & Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon, Tully Family Medicine and Walk-In Care and ACES Athol Community Elementary School Based Health Center in Athol. The organization also includes the Heywood Healthcare Charitable Foundation.

“Together, our hospitals and affiliated organizations have the strength to navigate the challenges of healthcare industry changes, while providing long-term access to quality, locally-controlled and oriented care for residents of our communities,” said Tina Griffin, Vice President, Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Operating Officer for Athol Hospital. “Through this partnership, our hospitals and our affiliates have the opportunity to make a positive impact on our community health by providing patients with access to a wider array of easily accessible healthcare services at the local-level.”

Athol Hospital features a highly trained staff of dedicated professionals providing diagnosis and treatment in all major medical disciplines. Our medical staff includes family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Through Heywood Medical Group, Athol patients have access to some of the most respected specialists in the region. In addition, a variety of physician offices are located in the Athol Hospital Medical Arts Building.

The Athol Hospital campus features acute care treatment facilities, including fully-equipped operating room suites, 24-hour emergency rooms, and a Swing Bed program, which transitions beds from acute care to sub-acute care to accommodate the rehabilitation needs of recovering patients. Our Outpatient Services includes on-site cardiac specialists, high tech laboratory, cardio-pulmonary testing and a short-stay unit. Our radiology department includes a state-of-the-art MRI, accredited digital mammography, Spiral CT scan, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine. Currently accredited by the Joint Commission (2012-2015). Our laboratory is accredited through COLA (2011-2013).

We look forward to continuing to provide quality, community-focused care tailored to meet the health needs of the residents of Athol and all of our region.