Westfield has a river, a railroad and an airport. We have Stanley Park, Parker Park and Hampton Ponds. We have Lozierville, Family Farms, and Wyben. We have three golf courses, three Highschools and a Mass Pike exit.
This week I was honored to be invited to an event to recognize another Westfield treasure, Noble Hospital. During a Heart Warming ceremony, The Trustees of Baystate Health and Noble Hospital announced that Noble and its affiliated entities will become part of Baystate Health Systems. This merger is very good news for the 750 employees presently working at Noble Hospital.
Just the name, Noble, should create a sense of pride and thankfulness throughout our community. The Noble family has contributed so much to the fabric of Westfield. The Hospital has served our citizens since 1893 when Reuben Noble left a significant part of his estate for the creation of a local hospital. Knowing that Noble Hospital will continue to operate in Westfield, taking care of our sick, injured and emergency needs should provide a sense of security on continuity of our citizens. Yet this hospital goes so much deeper for many of us. In its 122 year history, the Hospital has changed and advanced as the times have dictated. This merger is yet another example of Noble Hospital recognizing an opportunity and advancing to remain competitive in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment. As evident by the many speeches by local dignitaries, every citizen has had dealings with the Hospital, including all of the 40 year olds who think they were the last baby born at Noble Hospital.
I personally, have history at the hospital too. My grandfather was the General Contractor, D.A. Sullivan & Sons, of an addition that started being built in 1964. Most of us that have driven by the hospital will know it as the blue tiled addition from the outside as seen from Mill Street.
I also have met, not all socially, many doctors over time that I know were well known and respected professionals in the field of medicine. Dr. Aborjaily delivered my two younger brothers, Dr. Russelillo has brilliantly restructured a few of my families wounds, Dr. Mills, Dr. Flessas, and Dr. Collins had at one time or another treated the many ailments and of course now Dr. Strzempko, Dr. Sutton and Medical Assistant, Juanita Carnes have personally kept me upright, treating me at the Emergency Room and stabilizing me in I.C.U. I can not imagine my fate had it not been for the blessed Dr. Bob Schlichtig and his staff back fifteen years ago.
Though some may think the hospitals joined forces on July 1, 2015, I know that the handshake of unity happened in the year 2000. Noble employees and the Westfield Fire Department staff transported me to Baystate Medical Center so equipment not available at that time could be used to stabilize my condition. Now we have those benefits right at our fingertips as the two hospitals join Doctors, Specialists, Equipment and Facilites to take care of our community.
We need to thank Ron Bryant, former President/CEO of Noble Hospital (who will remain at Noble as President of Baystate Noble Hospital), John Shaver, Stan Strzempko and the administration of Noble Hospital, as well as Bob Bacon and the Noble Board of Trustees. Their foresight and tireless dedication lead to this merger. The hospital will now provide a variety of inpatient and outpatient services including medical, surgical, pulmonary rehab, cardiac and emergency services.
As mentioned, Noble currently employs over 750 people, many of whom live, shop and socialize within our borders. These employees are our friends and neighbors. They donate their time, talent and treasures to every charitable work in our community. As with many of the other businesses, it is essential that Westfield maintains and expands the workforce of our largest employers. The Noble employees will now join the Baystate team of 11,500 staff members, and the city should immediately realize the benefits of such a consolidation.
Westfield should be proud of the history Noble has in our community and now the hospital has the opportunity to continue that legacy for years to come. One need only to look across Massachusetts and the country to see the negative impacts of hospital closings. The loss of Noble Hospital would have lessened the quality of life in our community.
At the ceremony, Dr. Mark Keroak, President/CEO of Baystate Health said that “now we will move on to the most important part of this change: advancing the quality, access and value of care provided to the Westfield community.” He said he needs Noble to grow for Baystate to be successful. He announced a new nursing scholarship at Westfield State University. He announced that Baystate would immediately invest $2 million in capital improvements at Noble. He announced Ron Bryant would stay on and that Bob Bacon and Harriet DeVerry would represent the community on the Baystate Board of Directors and as a West Springfield resident he said “he was on our side” (a play off the Noble marketing message). I believe him and believe Noble is in good hands.
Celebrations are important moments in time. Time to look back, a time to appreciate what you have and what is important in life, and a time to look to the future. It was mentioned many times throughout the speeches how appreciative Noble Hospital is in having Baystate step up and become their partner. I would also like to say, on behalf of the Westfield Community, Baystate is also better off having Noble, and its long history of success, as its partner as well.
Good luck to all as we grow into our new transition. I know the future is bright, and that is good for all of us.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
