10/24/2025
10/23/25 -Sturbridge, MA
Care Central VNA & Hospice attends Friends of Harrington Hospital Event
UMass Memorial Health -Harrington, led by President Ed Moore, held its Friends of Harrington Hospital event Thursday evening at the Publick House Historic Inn. After welcome remarks by Ed Moore and Michael Engel, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Harrington, the large audience was presented with a UMass Memorial Health System overview by Eric Dickson, MD, President & CEO of UMass Memorial Health. Dr. Dickson reviewed strategic accomplishments of 2025, including the new ICU at Harrington, opening of the North Pavillion at the Medical Center in Worcester, the launch of Prescriptions Direct: Pharmacy Home Delivery, recognitions from EPIC and unprecedented improvements in caregiver engagement scores. Dr. Dickson also shared insights on the critical state of healthcare in Massachusetts, as provider shortages align with rising chronic disease burden in our communities, and the planned development of an Emergency Medicine Facility in the Nashoba Valley region.
Kristin Mattson, PT, Chief Development & Clinical Care Transitions Officer and Ashley Petkis, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, Director of Clinical Practice Palliative and Hospice represented Care Central VNA & Hospice, inc. at the event. Kristin shared with UMass leadership and the audience that Care Central’s recent assumption of care of home health and hospice patients, and hiring of 75+ staff due to the closure of Overlook VNA & Hospice, positions Care Central to be a critical post-acute solution for the UMass system’s ability to safely discharge patients to home for care.
Pictured:
Dr. Francis Powers, Chief Medical Officer at UMMH-Harrington and Ashley Petkis,
Ashley Petkis, Ed Moore, President & CEO UMMH-Harrington and Kristin Mattson.