NEW BEDFORD — After serving Southcoast Health for three years, North American Partners in Anesthesia will not have its contract renewed, causing a stir among current and former health care workers.
In May 2018, NAPA replaced the former anesthesia group, Anesthesia Associates of Massachusetts, which is now disbanded. AAM's contract employees served Southcoast Health medical facilities for 20 years. Critics say NAPA made promises to President Keith Hovan that it didn't keep. Word had spread around the hospital that NAPA promised to cover all three of Southcoast Health's locations —Tobey, St. Luke's, and Charlton — for $1.8 million less than AAM while retaining 90% of existing staff. In total, the decision to switch from AAM to NAPA affected roughly 10 doctors and about 25 CRNAs at St. Luke's and a handful from Charlton. The Standard-Times was unable to access official contracts between Southcoast Hospitals and NAPA and AAM.