A hospital merger was celebrated today in western Massachusetts. The deal promises to maintain local access to healthcare and preserve hundreds of jobs.
Dozens of community leaders, elected officials, and healthcare workers gathered under a large white tent on the lawn of a landmark hospital in Westfield to applaud the debut of Baystate Noble Hospital.
Baystate Health, the region’s largest employer with 11,500 workers, began a process in March that concluded July 1st to acquire Noble. The 122-year old community hospital employs 750 people. Baystate CEO Mark Keroack said no job cuts are anticipated.
" We hope to grow services out here, rather than contract them," he said.
Ronald Bryant will stay on as president of Baystate Noble. He said plans are moving ahead to open an urgent care center in the Feeding Hills section of Agawam.
The price of Baystate’s acquisition of Noble was not disclosed.
Keroack said the deal assures a continuation of local emergency, medical surgical, and other primary care for over 100,000 people who live in communities west of Springfield. It means those people will now have easier access to specialists in areas such as cardiology, neurology, and infectious diseases through Baystate’s flagship medical center in Springfield.
" The way the model works is a given specialist might go out two or three days a week either to support the general practitioner there or to see patients in the area," Keroack explained.
Noble is the fourth community hospital to come under Baystate’s umbrella joining hospitals in Greenfield, Palmer, and Ware. Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton is affiliated with the Boston-based Partners Healthcare network of hospitals. Holyoke Medical Center is the last remaining independent community hospital in the Pioneer Valley.
The economics of the healthcare industry and the regulatory landscape are perilous for community hospitals, as evidenced by last year’s abrupt closing of North Adams Regional Hospital.
Bryant said he began five years ago to strategically position Noble to become part of a larger hospital system.
" If you look at the hospitals that have become part of systems there is one common thread: they are all still there," he said.
Bryant said the hospital puts an estimated $165 million annually into the Westfield economy.
" It is vital we keep the economic engine going for this community and also for the health care we deliver," he said.
Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik and State Senator Donald Humason were among the local officials and community leaders who praised the new Baystate Noble Hospital.
" I was born in Noble Hospital," said Humason. " I am very happy to see it continue to serve the people of the greater Westfield area and the affiliation with Baystate will only make it stronger."
Noble Hospital was founded in 1893 when industrialist Reuben Noble bequeathed a large portion of his estate to establish a local hospital.
