UMass Memorial Medical Center

With the U.S. healthcare system in limbo, political leaders are facing a stark certainty: The state Medicaid budget is unsustainable and reform is imperative.

Volunteers from Leominster Credit Union participated in one of the largest meal-packing events for United Way of North Central Mass. More than 100,000 meals were packaged by 400 volunteers for 20 local food pantries at the Double Tree by Hilton in Leominster. Benefitting pantries are in Athol, Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner, Devens, Pepperell, Templeton, Winchendon and Westminster. Pictured (from left, front row) are Nancy Daigle, Ann Younie, Meghan Thomas and Susan Landry; (middle row) Cindy Holder and Stephanie and Lucas Hyles; and (back row) Stan Hyles.

The merger of UMass Memorial - HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster and UMass Memorial - Clinton and a proposed emergency department expansion were both approved yesterday by the Massachusetts Public Health Council, the healthcare system announced Thursday.

UMass Memorial Health Care on Wednesday said it has notified the state of plans to the number of beds in its 28-bed inpatient acute psychiatric unit on the University campus by about 50 percent.

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester said it plans to partner with Dana-Farber on adult oncology services.

A Worcester Superior Court jury last week ordered UMass Memorial Medical Center to pay $250,000 in damages to the widow of a 78-year-old man who died after being admitted to the hospital eight years ago.

Anna Maria College celebrated the holiday season by donating a collection of musical instruments to UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center in Worcester.

UMass Medical School has been awarded $836,858 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support research on treatments and cures for heart and vascular diseases.

A researcher at UMass Medical School has received a $788,000 grant to investigate a protein that could direct the development of new chemotherapy drugs.

The American Cancer Society announced Thursday it will fund six grants totaling $1.6 million to researchers in Massachusetts.