Health Care

Central Massachusetts hospitals generally struggled to reach a break-even point financially despite millions of dollars in federal aid meant to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Eastern Insurance Group LLC of Natick, a subsidiary of Boston-based Eastern Bank, announced on Tuesday it has acquired the assets of Dorchester-based Campbell, Flaherty & Ring Insurance Agency, Inc.

UMass Memorial Health Care has hired a new vice president to oversee diversity and inclusion, a new position at the Worcester-based hospital system that's the largest employer in Central Massachusetts.

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor's visitors centers in Worcester and Whitinsville are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. But park leaders and partners are ensuring there's still available activities, particularly for those with mobility issues.

A UMass Medical School infectious disease expert said he expects multiple coronavirus vaccines to be available next summer, by which time enough doses will be available that even people who aren't at high risk for the virus will be vaccinated.

Massachusetts officials are looking at how to reconfigure COVID-19 testing efforts to respond to the current distribution of cases around the state and prepare for winter weather, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday.

Three Central Mass. sober housing groups received a cumulative $201,675 from the Center for Community Recovery Innovations, Inc., a nonprofit subsidiary of MassHousing, the government agency announced on Wednesday.

Marlborough medical device company Hologic has won regulatory approval for a new device using artificial intelligence to detect subtle potential breast cancers.

COVID-19 vaccines could begin arriving in Massachusetts this month, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday, but it will be months before members of the general public have access to immunizations, based on plans the federal government and Massachusetts are finalizing this week to prioritize limited early supplies.

UMass Memorial Health Care is shifting into an emergency operations plan because of a critically high number of patients, and UMass Medical School is expanding testing and travel protocols as coronavirus pandemic numbers continue to rise, leaders at both entities said Tuesday.