UMass Memorial to Open New Groton ER in March 2027

The 18,500-square-foot emergency department will serve the Nashoba Valley region after the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

UMass Memorial Health announced that it will open a new satellite emergency department in Groton, Massachusetts in March 2027. The 18,500-square-foot facility, called UMass Memorial Medical Center at Nashoba Valley, will feature 16 treatment rooms, imaging services, and a Life Flight helipad. The new ER is being built to fill the care gap left by the 2024 closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.

Why it matters

The closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center left the Nashoba Valley region without a hospital and emergency department, forcing residents to travel up to 20 miles to access care. The new UMass Memorial facility will provide emergency services closer to home for the community.

The details

UMass Memorial Health hosted a topping off ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the first structural milestone of the new emergency department. The facility will be staffed 24/7 with one physician, a few advanced practice providers, 30 nurses, and 15 support staff. Opening the new ER will also reduce ambulance transport times for the area from 35-40 minutes down to 5-10 minutes.

  • UMass Memorial announced plans to open the new ER in January 2025.
  • The system officially broke ground on the project in September 2025.
  • The topping off ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The new UMass Memorial Medical Center at Nashoba Valley is scheduled to see its first patients in March 2027.

The players

UMass Memorial Health

A Worcester-based hospital system that is building the new emergency department in Groton.

Nashoba Valley Medical Center

A hospital in Ayer that closed in 2024, leaving the Nashoba Valley region without an emergency department.

Justin Precourt

President of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The genesis for this project really came from the closure of Nashoba Valley Regional Medical Center a short time ago, and really understanding the void and the need for services in this region.”

— Justin Precourt, President, UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester Business Journal)

“This is right here in their backyard in the community; staffed with UMass Memorial physicians and nurses, all of which will have emergency department experience, and really just provide full service support.”

— Justin Precourt, President, UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester Business Journal)

“That level of support will be significant.”

— Justin Precourt, President, UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester Business Journal)

What’s next

The new emergency department is scheduled to open and see its first patients in March 2027.

The takeaway

The closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center left a critical gap in emergency services for the Nashoba Valley region, but the new UMass Memorial facility in Groton will restore access to high-quality emergency care close to home for local residents.