Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and Dena Hall cut the ribbon for the new entrance at Baystate Noble Hospital Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – Officials from Baystate Noble Hospital, dignitaries and friends held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new hospital entrance on Thursday, completing an eight-month renovation. The new entrance and reception area have been enhanced to improve access and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some of the improvements include installing new automatic sliding doors, re-grading the circular driveway and walkway areas to create a level surface, and adding a protected drive-under canopy drop-off area for patients.
“The community is behind you,” said Westfield Mayor Brian P. Sullivan at the ceremony. “It’s our community hospital that’s growing, and it’s time new doors opened,” he added.
Ronald Bryant, president of Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Franklin Medical Center told those gathered he was excited to celebrate a new day at Baystate Noble Hospital. “The lobby is as far as our tour is going, but it’s not where our work ends,” he said, listing a new oncology center, state of the art pharmacy and new breast health center. Bryant also said they are currently in the midst of a $13 million technological upgrade to provide connectivity throughout the Baystate Health system.
A glimpse of the new entrance at the opening ceremony.
Bryant added that under Michele Urban, chief nursing advisor and chief administrative officer, and the patient advisory councilor, morale and enthusiasm are high among employees. “When you see all this, it makes you happy to come to work,” he said.
“It’s a little more reflective of the care we give inside. It’s light and airy and cheerful, but calming. We’re really excited about it,” Urban said about the new entrance before the ribbon-cutting.
Bryant and Scott Berg, vice president of Philanthropy for Baystate Health and executive director of the Baystate Health Foundation thanked Senator Donald F. Humason, Jr. and Representative John C. Velis for securing $150,000 of seed money for the renovation in 2015. They also thanked the Noble Ball Committee, who Berg called “heros.”
Dena Hall, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at BankESB and vice chairman of the Noble Ball committee, spoke on behalf of the Board of Trustees. “I’m sure many of you know the benefits of having a hospital in our community,” Hall said, relating a personal story about the hospital saving her brother’s life. She said he is now “thriving.”
The new theme for this year’s Noble Ball was also unveiled on Thursday.
Hall said the Baystate Noble Ball is one of the largest fundraisers in the Baystate Health System, and raised $340,000 last year to help bring a new CT scanner to Baystate Noble under co-chairs Jim and Kathie Irwin and Mike and Jen McCabe.
Hall said the Ball committee donated over $800,000 to make this entrance possible. She then unveiled the theme, “It’s Magic,” for the 2018 Noble Ball, to be held on Saturday, Nov. 3.
“We believe in the important work of keeping excellent health care close to home. 54 years of people coming together,” Hall said.
“It’s a great day for Westfield. Baystate Noble has an incredible partnership with the community, and this is one more example. We are grateful to donors and legislators,” said Michael Knapik, vice president of Government and Community Relations for Baystate Health, following the ceremony.
