Massachusetts hospitals at odds on center

MetroWest Medical Center—which has two campuses, Framingham (MA) Union Hospital and Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, MA—is opposing its rival's bid to build a 24,000-square-foot outpatient treatment and surgical center in Framingham. Newton-Wellesley, owned by Partners HealthCare, says the surgical center is needed to alleviate long waits for orthopedic and gastrointestinal procedures at the hospital's main campus. The dispute is being watched closely within the healthcare industry as community hospitals fight for turf against Boston teaching hospitals.