Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Diana Richardson, President and CEO of Merrimack Health
Dec 24, 2025
Diana Richardson, President and CEO of Merrimack Health, has a wealth of experience in healthcare administration. She discusses the rapid formation of a three-hospital system in Massachusetts during a crisis, highlighting challenges in integration and the importance of community care. Diana shares insights on completing an electronic medical record overhaul in just six months and emphasizes the need for financial sustainability. With a focus on listening and humor as leadership tools, she outlines her vision for the next 12–18 months, including strategies for managing Medicaid changes.
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Rapid Formation To Save Regional Care
- Lawrence General Hospital acquired two Holy Family Hospitals to prevent closure and form Merrimack Health in October 2024.
- Diana Richardson describes the deal as rapid and driven by the need to secure regional healthcare access.
State Response And Personal Involvement
- Diana joined an incident command organized by the Massachusetts Commissioner for Public Health during Steward's bankruptcy.
- She helped facilitate the fast acquisition and felt compelled by the hospitals' strong community commitment.
Reverse-Order Integration Worked Necessarily Fast
- The integration speed forced Merrimack Health to reverse the usual merger timeline and perform planning after the legal combination.
- This required prioritizing clinical systems and doing a six-month EMR consolidation normally done in 12–18 months.