After Years Of Uncertainty, Hartford HealthCare Marks First Day At Manchester Memorial And Its Rockville Campus

MANCHESTER, CT — After years of mounting losses and uncertainty over their survival, Manchester Memorial Hospital and its Rockville campus entered a new chapter Monday as Hartford HealthCare formally marked its takeover of the two community hospitals. The day included events celebrating what leaders and staff described as a turning point for two community hospitals whose future was uncertain only months ago.

For years, Manchester Memorial Hospital and its Rockville campus posted some of the steepest operating losses in Connecticut, even as patient volumes stabilized after the COVID-19 pandemic. State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said the decline was drivenby ownership decisions and debt rather than demand for care.

“This hospital being open today was not a given six months ago. It was not a given a year ago,” Scanlon said. “Care was at risk. Jobs were at risk. Health care in the state was at risk.”

State hospital financial filings show that in fiscal year 2023, Manchester Memorial reported an operating loss of approximately $12.9 million, while the Rockville campus reported a loss of roughly $52.6 million. Prospect Medical Holdings, which acquired the hospitals’ parent network in 2016 and later sold hospital real estate to outside entities, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2025.

The $86.1 million acquisition from bankrupt Prospect Medical Holdings closed Jan. 1, after legislative approval in November and a Dec. 26 agreement with the state attorney general setting conditions for the deal.

Scanlon said the state would continue to partner with Hartford HealthCare throughout the transition to help maintain access to care in the region.

Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeff Flaks said the acquisition reflected a long-term commitment to eastern Connecticut and a belief that community hospitals can thrive when they are supported rather than stripped of resources.

“This is about making health care better — raising quality, raising safety — and making sure people can get the care they need close to home,” Flaks said. “Bringing technology, relationships and clinical expertise to this region allows people to stay in their communities for care.”

Flaks described the transition as a partnership rather than a takeover, emphasizing workforce stability, physician recruitment and service expansion. He said Hartford HealthCare’s approach focuses on delivering care in the right setting, noting that 43% of surgeries across the system already occur outside of hospitals, avoiding hospital-based costs while expanding access.

Flaks introduced Dr. Adam C. Steinberg as president of the newly formed Greater Manchester Region. Steinberg brings nearly 20 years of physician leadership experience at Hartford Hospital, most recently serving as vice president of medical affairs, and will oversee care delivery and service expansion across the Manchester and Vernon area.

In addition to the $86.1M purchase prices, Hartford HealthCare has committed to invest $225.7 million over three years to upgrade facilities, technology and workforce capacity.

Hospital staff in attendance responded audibly when Steinberg referenced planned information technology upgrades. About 94% of the roughly 2,500 employees at Manchester Memorial and Rockville remained through the ownership transition.

U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-CT, whose district includes Manchester, framed the acquisition as a significant moment for regional health care access.

“This is the best thing that’s happened for health care east of the (Connecticut) river in a long time,” Larson said. “These hospitals are vital to the people and communities who rely on them.”

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas welcomed the acquisition, calling it an important step for regional health care stability. 

“Today marks a significant step forward for the health of this region,” Rojas said in a statement, adding that the hospital would remain a vital community resource under Hartford HealthCare’s leadership.

Hartford HealthCare now operates nine acute-care hospital campuses statewide.