Western Massachusetts, a patchwork of rural communities and low-income cities, is a difficult place to find a primary care doctor if you don’t already have one. Frustrated patients often turn to online forums, asking for leads or advice on how to find a practice that is accepting new patients.
One name repeatedly crops up in these discussions: Valley Medical Group.
With four locations in the Connecticut River Valley, the practice has been a mainstay of family medicine since the 1990s. Valley Medical’s flagship office in Florence can be found right on Main Street, next door to a pizza restaurant and near a Friendly’s.
Valley has 90 medical providers — including doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — and on-site labs, X-rays, and vision care. With tens of thousands of patients, it’s become one of the largest independent practices in western Massachusetts.
It forms a key part of the region’s health care infrastructure, yet Valley Medical has rarely been under more strain than it is now. In January, the practice laid off 40 employees — 10% of its 400-person staff — mostly in support positions.
Despite patient demand — there are waiting lists to be seen — …