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BOSTON (State House News Service) — The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which first disclosed the planned closure Tuesday, said Healey's fiscal 2026 budget on Wednesday will call for shuttering the 60-bed Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. The hospital offers medical, rehabilitative, educational and recreational services for individuals with "severe" physical and cognitive disabilities and other conditions, the nurses union said.
The Healey administration said it intends to move Pappas programs to another public health hospital, the 87-bed Western Massachusetts Hospital (WMH) in Westfield. Officials say they plan to create a specialty unit for children at WMH, including a 25-bed dedicated pediatric care program.
The Department of Public Health said 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 will end up at WMH, while others could be transferred to other facilities across the state to "accommodate their specific level of need."
Health officials said the relocation process will occur throughout the year, with the bulk of transitions scheduled for the fall. The plan will affect more than 225 Pappas employees, plus staff from other organizations and state agencies, DPH said.
The planned closure follows a campus feasibility study last year, which found "the current facilities in Canton are unable to accommodate the kind of technology and high-acuity care that many children with significant disabilities need," DPH said. Transitioning away from Canton will also help the state improve care for children with complex medical needs, officials argue.
DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein called the decision "necessary."
"We understand that this is a difficult step for many of the patients and families who have built strong connections with Pappas and staff," Goldstein said in a statement. "We are committed to supporting them through this transition. Ultimately, this is about improving services and providing every child with the care they need. We will also work closely with our partners in labor to connect Pappas employees with new employment opportunities."
The MNA warned the Westfield hospital serves a predominantly adult population and offers "few of the specialized amenities and services provided by Pappas." MNA noted the Pappas campus, which sits on more than 160 acres in Canton, has a junior-sized Olympic swimming pool, a pond for water-based sports, and a barn and equestrian track for rehabilitation services.
The union said it represents 75 nurses and health professionals at Pappas.
"The biggest advantage of Pappas is in the full range of therapy, medical care and other services they receive across all settings," Michelle Sweeney, who directs Pappas's physical therapy program, said in a statement shared by the MNA. "At Western Mass Hospital, we expect they will receive, at most, one-on-one tutoring for education, while at Pappas, we are able to offer customized education in a classroom setting, and by integrating their therapy needs throughout the day."
MNA said there's "no guarantee" that Pappas staff will be able to relocate to WMH and that "it will be very difficult to find equally competent staff to maintain the quality of care."
Pappas serves children and young adults, ages 7 to 22+, and helps patients "achieve their optimal level of independence in all aspects of life," according to a state webpage. The hospital offers 24/7 nursing care, therapeutic services including speech and language therapies, transitional programming to help patients integrate into their communities, and an on-site Special Education in Institutional Settings program that's operated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for individuals under age 22.
Patients admitted to Pappas must meet criteria such as having a need for ongoing medical intervention and care, difficulty with daily living activities, and perceptual impairment that affects their safety or "reasonable functioning," according to the state webpage.
Health officials say the new wing at WMH will include "enhanced" medical infrastructure to care for children with complex medical needs, assistive equipment, and play areas for patients to receive therapy and services.
"While transitions are never easy, this move will provide us with the resources and infrastructure to take care of the children who need us and have few other options," Pappas CEO Fatima Watt said in a statement. "This move provides us with the resources and modern infrastructure to advance pediatric care in a more cohesive and specialized environment – and to continue having a positive impact on the lives of children and families in Massachusetts."
Written by Alison Kuznitz/SHNS