UMass Memorial plans to convert nursing facility into additional hospital beds

UMass Memorial Health plans to make headway on its long-term plan to add 200 beds to its University Campus in Worcester by converting the former Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, which it purchased in 2021, into a hospital building. 

UMass Memorial Health is scheduled to present its plans to the Worcester Planning Board in a public meeting on Wednesday. 

The healthcare system purchased the building at 378 Plantation St., across from the hospital university campus, for $23.5 million in 2021. 

At the time of purchase, the health system said the 85,488-square-foot property requires significant renovations, as well as approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, before it can be used as an inpatient facility.

Renovation plans, which UMass Memorial will present to the planning board, will add 14,000 square feet to the university campus medical footprint, along with 72 inpatient beds, according to documents submitted to the planning board.

In March 2020, UMass used the Plantation Street property to care for stabilized COVID-19 patients.