Rebuilding Care in the Nashoba Region

When Nashoba Valley Medical Center closed in August 2024, residents of the Nashoba area lost convenient access to critical health care services, including emergency care. Understanding the void this closure left in the region, UMass Memorial announced plans in January 2025 to open a new Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) at 490 Main Street in Groton – a solution that ensures residents can access high-quality, affordable emergency care where they live and work.

“We know how deeply the closure affected families across the Nashoba region,” said Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health. “That’s why we are so pleased to move ahead with plans to open a Satellite Emergency Facility in Groton — a facility shaped by the voices of the people who care for patients in this community.”

Over the past year, leaders from UMass Memorial worked closely with local fire and emergency medical services (EMS) teams, the Nashoba Valley Health Planning Working Group, and other community partners to choose the best location that meets the region’s most urgent needs — faster EMS transport times and greater access to care.

The SEF will provide critical services for the region: adult and pediatric emergency care and imaging and lab services. It also will include beds that can be used for emergency care or observation and a helipad. To support construction, UMass Memorial is pursuing philanthropic donations.

“We’re grateful to the Nashoba Valley Health Planning Working Group for their thoughtful recommendations during this transition,” said Dr. Dickson. “We also appreciate the Healey-Driscoll administration’s guidance and support, the collaborative spirit of local leaders, legislators, community organizations, fire and EMS chiefs, and other health care providers as we work together to rebuild care in the Nashoba region.”

UMass Memorial broke ground on the SEF in the fall of 2025 and is slated to open in late 2026. •