One of the few remaining community hospitals in western Massachusetts is in merger talks with the region’s largest hospital network.
Officials at Noble Hospital in Westfield and Baystate Health Systems are working out details to seek regulatory approval for the 96-bed community hospital to join the much larger network of hospitals and physician practices. Westfield State Senator Don Humason believes the merger will preserve access to health care.
"It kind of ensures the survival of our community hospital here west of the river," said Humason Thursday when asked for his reaction to the potential merger. " It serves so many people from Westfield, the Hilltowns and even northern Connecticut."
Baystate Health, based in Springfield, has in recent years acquired smaller hospitals in Greenfield, Ware and Palmer. Baystate has 11,500 employees.
