Mass General Brigham downtown clinic to close for housing

Mass General Brigham will close its only primary care practice located in the Downtown Crossing neighborhood on December 18. A health system spokesperson confirmed the decision, which will affect thousands of local patients who regularly visit the facility at 294 Washington Street for internal medicine and routine care.

The closure is necessary because the building is slated for commercial redevelopment. Developer Synergy plans to transform the existing office structure into residential apartments as part of Boston's broader Office to Residential Conversion Program, which aims to convert multiple office buildings into hundreds of new housing units.

City officials designed this municipal conversion initiative to revitalize commercial downtown districts by turning underused office towers into vibrant residential spaces. The specific downtown property will yield dozens of new apartments once construction gets underway following the medical clinic's departure from the site.

Hospital administrators assured patients that they will not lose access to their regular healthcare providers. The five primary care physicians and one nurse practitioner currently practicing at the downtown office will transition to other regional health system facilities along with their established patient panels.

Representatives from the health system confirmed that no layoffs or staff reductions are tied directly to the closure of this primary care office. Patients who receive care at the practice have until December 18 to make alternative arrangements or consult with their care teams regarding their upcoming medical appointments.

This transition arrives as the broader healthcare network navigates financial pressures and organizational changes. Network leadership recently communicated to staff members that the institution must streamline operations across its various hospitals and outpatient care settings to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Notices regarding the upcoming closure and care transition steps are being sent to affected patients. Clinic representatives advised individuals to check their online health portals for direct updates.