The Caring Continues, Together.
Waterbury HEALTH and UConn Health each bring a deep commitment to caring for patients and serving communities across Connecticut.
This transition reflects a shared commitment to:
- High-quality, patient-centered care
- Respect for the people who make that care possible
- Strengthening healthcare access and stability across Connecticut
This moment is not about erasing what exists today. It’s about building on it, together, with care for the history, people, and communities involved.
Importantly, we are working through a thoughtful integration plan that allows us to fully recognize the strengths of our combined efforts. Aside from some important initial steps to align our personnel and payroll management, your day-to-day experience is likely to remain the same for the foreseeable future.
Moving Forward Together
As we move forward together, UConn Health leadership would like to share information about the future and express our appreciation for the care, professionalism, and commitment you bring to your work.
What’s Changing
- Waterbury HEALTH employees will have the opportunity to transition employment to UConn Health Waterbury Hospital or one its affiliates.
- New employment offers will be issued to Waterbury HEALTH employees.
What’s Staying the Same
- Our commitment to patients and community.
- Day-to-day patient care during the transition period.
- Respect for your experience, skills, and contributions.
- Ongoing support from leadership and HR teams.
- Employee policies and procedures such as PTO, pay policies, titles, and other terms of employment.
- Your phone number, email/M365 access, applications, and SSO credentials.
Updates will be shared as soon as information becomes available.
Waterbury HEALTH Employees
Please reference the FAQ section for answers to frequently asked questions.
Employment Offers
Employment offer letters were emailed to Waterbury HEALTH employees by February 3, 2026, from UConn Health Community Network (UCHCN), which includes UConn Health Waterbury Hospital and its affiliates.
Employees who accepted their employment offer will receive instructions to begin the necessary onboarding process.
Employee Onboarding
New colleagues who have accepted their employment offer with UConn Health Community Network will receive important information outlining the required onboarding steps prior to their start date. Employees will be asked to (1) complete a background check authorization, (2) health screening, and (3) an I-9 employment eligibility verification.
Employees are encouraged to monitor their email closely and complete all required steps within the designated timeframes to ensure a smooth transition.
Onboarding Actions Required
1. Background Check
- You will receive an email from our background check vendor, Security Services of Connecticut (SSC). This communication will include instructions to authorize your background check.
- Please review the email carefully and complete the authorization process within 24 hours of receipt.
2. I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (In Person)
- In person I-9 verification is required for federal compliance. HR staff will be onsite at Waterbury Hospital on the 2nd floor in the HR and education wings from February 16-27 from 6:00am-6:00pm to complete this process.
- Additional I-9 sessions will be offered on location for AMG/CAGW employees. Additional details will be provided by location.
Please complete the following REQUIRED ACTIONS prior to arriving for your I-9 verification :
- Print and complete the required fields of I-9 Form (Section 1 only).
- Review and compile the I-9 Acceptable Documents.
You are required to bring:
- Your completed I‑9 form
- Original, unexpired documents verifying your identity and employment authorization. Please see the list of I-9 Acceptable Documents.
- One document from List A, or
- One document from List B and one document from List C
Please note: Copies or electronic versions of documents cannot be accepted, and the review must be completed in person to meet federal requirements.
Timing expectations:
- If you arrive with your completed I-9 (Section 1 only), please plan for approximately 5–10 minutes.
- If you do not bring a completed I-9, please plan for approximately 15–20 minutes to complete.
3. Health Screening
Please watch for an email from our vendor, Concentra, with next steps and scheduling information for your required drug screening and physical.
If you have questions or need assistance with any onboarding step, please contact WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org.
Pay and Benefits
We will offer the same base salary or hourly rate and substantially similar benefits to what you received in December 2025. Please see details about benefits that will be offered to UCHCN employees on the Benefits page.
Policies and Procedures
Employee policies and procedures such as PTO, pay policies, titles, and other terms of employment will remain the same when the transaction closes.
IT & Cybersecurity
- No change to your phone number, email/M365 access, applications, and SSO credentials on Day 1. Please continue using the same username and password you use today for all access.
- Your access to the data and systems needed for Day 1 continuity will not change. As part of the transition and in rare cases, access to non‑WTBY data may no longer be available, so if data looks different than expected, that’s normal and by design.
- Please be mindful of protecting data, especially Protected Health Information (PHI). Double check recipients before sending emails and only use approved systems to help reduce risk in simple, everyday ways.
- Be aware of common phishing scenarios where scammers try to blend:
- Emails claiming to share your new benefits or insurance information
- Messages about an important payroll or compensation update that require immediate action
- Unusual requests that appear to come from executives or leadership
- Notices about updated vendor, supplier, or invoice details
- Urgent alerts saying your email, system, or account settings must be changed right away
- A few simple habits help protect against phishing:
- pause before clicking
- verify unusual requests
- be cautious with attachments or links you weren’t expecting
- report or ask a question about anything that feels off
- If you receive a suspicious message or aren’t sure about an email, please report it to 203-575-2222 or ITsupport@pmh.com. Reporting helps protect everyone.
Vendor Interactions
As we continue our transition into UConn Health Community Network, some of our valued vendors and partners may contact you with questions about what this means for their existing agreements and future work.
General Guidance for those who interact with Vendors:
Route all vendor contracting questions to the Supply Chain & Contracting team.
Do not make contractual commitments or discuss contract terms with vendors.
- Do not amend, terminate, or renegotiate agreements without Supply Chain & Legal approval.
- Escalate immediately if a vendor expresses concerns about continuity, compliance, or payment.
Please see here for more information and FAQs.
What You Need to Do Now
At this time:
- Continue your current role and responsibilities.
- Review this site regularly for updates.
- Reach out to WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org for support with additional HR related questions.
Where To Go For Help
Please follow your current processes for support.
In addition, to support Day 1 transition activities, a temporary command center will be available from February 25 – March 3 (see details below).
For technology support or to report an IT issue:
call 203-575-2222 or email ITsupport@pmh.com
For HR support:
To submit an IT ticket to report an equipment issue:
Report an Equipment Issue (your Service Now Portal)
To check the status of an IT support ticket:
Locate IT Support Ticket (your ServiceNow Portal)
In- Person Support (for the transition start)
IT HR/ Command Center
WTBY Hospital – Board Room 4424
Incident Command
WTBY Hospital – Room 4416 (primary) and Room 4417
Command Center: For system issues
(e.g., system outages, access issues, payroll)
Incident Command: For key non-system issues / operational issues (e.g., operational workflow, security, clinical, etc.)
Command Center:
Wednesday, February 25 – Tuesday, March 3
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET
&
Sunday, March 1 (Day 1): 12:01 AM – 7:00 PM ET
Incident Command:
Wednesday, February 25 – Tuesday, March 3
7:00 AM – 5:30 PM ET: visit in-person room locations or call 203-573-6035
5:30 PM – 7:00 AM: contact the nursing supervisor at 949-372-0671
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this change happening?
Waterbury HEALTH is partnering with UConn Health to preserve its rich history and deliver access to safe, high-quality, and affordable care for generations to come.
Who does this transition apply to?
This transition applies to Waterbury HEALTH employees.
Will all Waterbury HEALTH employees receive an offer of employment?
Waterbury HEALTH employees have received an offer of employment to their same title, hours, and pay that is in place at the time of close. Please note: Waterbury employees will not become state employees.
Have offers of employment been offered to Waterbury HEALTH employees?
Yes, offer letters were emailed to all Waterbury HEALTH employees by February 3, 2026. Those who accepted their offer will receive instructions for the necessary onboarding process.
What is UConn Health Community Network (UCHCN)?
UConn Health is building a “public-private” health network in the state of Connecticut. The newly formed UConn Health Community Network (UCHCN) is a private, not-for-profit entity that will include UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, affiliates of UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, and other hospitals and clinics in the future.
Your employment offer letter is issued by one of the entities included in the UCHCN.
What happens if I choose not to accept an offer?
Employees who do not accept an offer will no longer be employed at Waterbury HEALTH. Employment will end on the last day worked prior to the closing date. Employees are encouraged to review their offer carefully and reach out to WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org with questions.
Will my pay change?
We will offer the same base salary or hourly rate to what you are receiving as of the transaction’s close date.
What will happen to my benefits?
UConn Health is working with vendors to provide substantially similar benefits package to what you were receiving in December 2025. There will be information about how to enroll issued as soon as possible.
There will be no gap in coverage.
We are working with vendors to establish a new 401(k) plan for Day 1.
Will the name of Waterbury Hospital change?
Yes, the updated name will be UConn Health Waterbury Hospital to reflect the partnership.
What should I do right now?
At this time, employees should continue their current roles and responsibilities, watch for official communications, and review this site regularly for updates. You will be notified when action is required.
Will patient care or daily operations change during the transition?
Patient care and daily operations will continue throughout the transition. Maintaining continuous care is a priority.
What if I'm a member of one of the three collective bargaining units?
The terms and conditions of employment will continue to be governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Where can I ask questions or raise concerns?
If your question is role-specific or urgent, you may reach out to your manager or leader.
If you have a concern related to pay or benefits you can reach HR at WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org. Pay or benefits questions will be escalated directly to UConn Health leadership.
Is the health insurance carrier change to Claritev related to the UConn Health transition?
No. This insurance coverage is provided by the current owner, Prospect Medical Holdings. Please refer to the Q&A distributed by Waterbury Leadership or reach out to WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org with any questions about the current coverage, as this is unrelated to the UConn Health transition.
Will I maintain my seniority?
All employees will retain their seniority as part of the transaction. Even if your offer letter does not mention your date of hire, you will retain your seniority.
Is my current work schedule changing?
No one’s schedule is changing as a result of the transaction.
What if I have more than one role?
Offer letters mention only your primary role. If you have more than one position, you will retain your other role(s) in the same fashion post Close as you do today.
Why do I have to go through another onboarding process and what does it entail?
From an employment compliance perspective, employees are ultimately joining a new legal entity. Similar to joining any new employer, employees need to complete the pre-employment onboarding process to meet the employment requirements. Details on the onboarding process will be shared shortly after you accept the offer letter.
Will Waterbury employees have a probationary period post Close?
Your hire dates will be honored, so if you have already passed your probationary period as of the transaction close date, you will not have to go through the probationary process again.
Why do offer letters not provide specific details on my PTO?
PTO programs differ depending on employee position and union status. Ultimately, there are no changes to PTO programs as part of the transaction.
What if I have an issue accessing my email and my offer letter?
Please reach out to the IT department to address any email issues.
Who will receive an offer of employment?
All Waterbury HEALTH employees will receive offers of employment. If you have not received an offer letter, please reach out to WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org.
My assigned unit or department is not included in the offer letter, will there be changes in assignments?
No, you will continue in the same assignments you currently support today.
Will there be changes to differentials, such as night, weekend, or other shift differentials?
No, differentials will remain consistent with current practices.
Where can I ask questions or raise concerns?
If your question is role-specific or urgent, you may reach out to your manager or leader.
If you have a concern related to pay or benefits you can reach HR at WTBYHRConnection@wtbyhosp.org. Pay or benefits questions will be escalated directly to UConn Health leadership.
For IT issues, concerns, or questions, please contact 203-575-2222 or ITsupport@pmh.com.