Steward Health Care Buys Morton Hospital

TAUNTON (CBS) - Less than a year after buying the Caritas Christi hospitals, Steward Health Care Systems is buying another institution. Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton has notified workers that it will be acquired by Steward in deal worth more than $170 million in cash and debt.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Anthony Silva reports

Spokesman Chris Murphy says the purchase of Morton fills in a gap in service in that area and Steward will upgrade the hospital's infrastructure including clinical information technology, electronic medical records and other upgrades.

Steward will also assume almost $31 million in unfunded liability in Morton's pension plan and pay down $28 million in debt.

Murphy says few jobs will be affected. Steward was created by Cerberus Capital Management in New York. The company hopes to buy other hospitals soon.

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• Anthony Silva