Baystate Health

"My mom, who was a phlebotomist and worked at Wing Memorial and Baystate encouraged both my older sister and me to volunteer at the hospital. My sister knew from a young age she wanted to go into the medical field, but like many teenagers, I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I volunteered in the summers of 2010- 2013 in the Med/Surg Unit, short-stay surgery, and the rehab department. Out of all the departments, I fell in love with rehab. The thought of helping everyday people get back to doing the things they love and care about most really appealed to me.

I graduated from Springfield College with my doctorate in physical therapy in 2020. I've been working as a Physical Therapist since primarily focusing on outpatient orthopedics and pelvic health. I joined the team at Baystate Wing in April 2024. My sister, works as a BRT at Baystate Wing while she works to complete her nursing degree. Just like with volunteering, she nudged me in the right direction to work at Baystate Wing as well!

In school, I was told that a good PT should know what's going on with a patient before laying a hand on them. The longer I practice PT the more this rings true- listening to patients is one of the strongest skills that a therapist has to offer. I truly believe that if you listen to your patients, they will tell you exactly what is wrong or where to take the treatment next.

The most rewarding thing about physical therapy (PT) is watching patients work to achieve their goals! Knowledge is power and once you give people the tools, they're able to take what they've learned and apply it outside of the clinic. I've had so many patients come to me thinking that PT wouldn't work, and although not common, some of these people have had their symptoms resolved in as little as one session.

I think people would be surprised that they can come in for preventative care or when their issues are very minor- they don't need to wait until they are having moderate to severe pain or dysfunction to get help. Often learning the right ways to move can quickly solve the problem and keep you strong and mobile for years to come.

⭐PATIENT STORY ⭐

After taking extra coursework on male pelvic health, I had one patient come to me with pelvic pain and UTI-like symptoms that had been going on for a couple of months, but his urine cultures kept coming back negative. He was working a stressful job- full-time as a nurse in a short-staffed clinic and would frequently need to take bathroom breaks but it would take him 10-15 minutes to go.

Normally he would lift at the gym for stress relief but had to stop going because of his pain, and on top of that his symptoms were negatively affecting his intimacy with his wife. After a thorough orthopedic and pelvic PT evaluation, I used the knowledge I already had about the musculoskeletal system and the knowledge I had just gained about the embryologic development of male anatomy.

I was able to treat what I found to be a tight and restricted thoracic spine. I educated the patient on anatomy, bladder habits, stress management, did manual therapy, and got him on a good stretching routine. He was symptom-free in a matter of 2-3 sessions and able to show up 100% in all aspects of his life again. Since I had never treated someone who presented like that before I didn't know exactly what to do or if I would be able to help him, but I took what I knew, applied my skills and the patient made a full recovery.

Never did I ever imagine as a PT that I would be able to help a patient who presented like that. I'm so grateful that I not only had the opportunity to try but to also be successful in helping someone take back their life and ultimately that's why I do the work that I do. I am hopeful to offer pelvic physical therapy at Baystate Rehabilitation Care – Palmer."

-Monica Lindsay, DPT, Physical Therapist, Baystate Rehabilitation Care – Palmer

PSA: READ FOR HIGHLY REJUVENATING NEWS.✨

It's , and we're here to tell you that it’s a perfect day to sit back, relax and nap!💤

Napping as an adult can be very beneficial for your brain & body. You read that right, napping can be enjoyed by more than just little ones!

When you weren’t able to get enough sleep the night prior, a short nap can improve your alertness, memory, problem-solving speed, focus & productivity. Naps can even help you relax, which may decrease stress & irritability.

To introduce or optimize healthy napping, read more about Dr. Karin Johnson's tips for napping, the benefits of napping, napping concerns, and napping as you get older: bit.ly/3WY3DKy

Happy napping!😴💤

Our Baystate Wellness on Wheels (WOW) bus rolled into action at the Mason Square branch of the Springfield City Library’s first-ever Community Health Fair! We were one of a dozen local organizations making a difference and bringing wellness to our community. A huge shoutout to the amazing WOW bus team and Baystate volunteers who staffed our table!

The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Journey ventured to Springfield, spreading the word about their mission to gather a million-person medical data set for inclusive biomedical research.

This interactive, outdoor exhibit aims to improve medical treatments, outcomes, and prevention for people of all colors and backgrounds.

The All of Us truck is traveling nationwide, so keep an eye out!

Nurses are the difference,” says Chief Nursing Officer Joanne Miller. Our nursing team’s dedication is evident every day, building on a history dating back to 1892.

We're honored to share the investment in nursing with a generous $20,000 donation from Baystate School of Nursing alumnae, Gail LeClair (Class of ’64), Ann Tompkins (Class of ’53), Marty Pilon (Class of ’57), and Barbara Gurka (Class of ’64) - to support the Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation project.

This gift, one of many during their 13 years of support, is the final one for the group, as they begin to close the chapter on the alumni association.

The Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation will create a centralized facility within Baystate Medical Center to support the education and training of current nurses and the next generation of nursing talent who will care for our patients. This comprehensive investment will create an invaluable asset for our already excellent nurses, enabling them to stay current on the most effective practices. Additionally, the investment will play a critical role in recruiting and retaining future generations of nursing talent.

Though much has changed since Gail, Ann, Marty, and Barbara received their nursing pins, one thing remains the same—the dedication of our nurses to providing high-quality care.

Read more about their generosity: https://bit.ly/4d1XUJd

"The DAISY Team Award concept recognizes that, while an idea to achieve better patient and family outcomes may start with one individual, it often takes the entire team to implement successfully.," shares Karli Barrett, Chief Nursing Officer & Chief Administrative Officer of Baystate Wing Hospital.

Recently, we had the honor of presenting our first DAISY Team Award at Baystate Wing Hospital as our Outpatient Infusion Suite Team was nominated by a family member of a patient who shared, “My mom has been going to the infusion suite at Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer for many years. Her infusion takes two to three hours, and she goes every six to eight weeks.

For years, my mom went alone to her infusion appointments, but for the last year or so, it has been necessary for me to drive her to her appointments.

Now I see how Lynn, Heather, and Kelly, go above and beyond to make my mom feel comfortable. They greet her like a good friend when she arrives. They make sure she’s warm and has something to eat and drink if she needs it. They’re busy, and they’re professional, and yet they perform this task in a way that can only mean that they care about the human being. My family truly appreciates this.

They are there not only for my mom but knowing that caring for my mom at home now can be difficult for my family, they offer helpful suggestions when I ask, or when they believe they have an opinion that may be of help, or just some words of reassurance. All this, again, they do while caring for several people at a time. Amazing!”

Our Baystate Wing Hospital Infusion Team is known for their kind support of each other as they work to deliver quality, compassionate care that makes a difference in the lives of our patients, their families, and our community.

We’re so thankful for the immensely positive impact they make each and every day!

Maximize your medication management. 💊 Did you know your pharmacist can be a superstar addition to your care team? Our experts offer great tips to help you share the right information with your pharmacist, ensuring you get the best advice possible. "The information you share with your pharmacist determines the quality of the advice they can give," says Mark Heelon, Medication Safety Officer.

Mark also shares essential tips for storing both prescription and over-the-counter medications to keep them safe and effective:

✅Avoid extreme temperatures. Keep medications between 59- and 73-degrees F and in a cool dry place. (NOTE: this means NOT keeping medications in your luggage in the trunk of a car or in checked bags when flying)

✅If you order drugs by mail or have them delivered, avoid having them sit on a hot porch or in a hot mailbox

✅ Avoid using bathroom medicine cabinets where humidity can impact the efficacy of drugs.

✅Don’t store medication on a windowsill as sunlight may impact how well it works.

Read the full story here:

Medication Safety: How Pharmacists Help You Manage Your Meds | Baystate Health Expert tips to prevent errors and streamline your routine.

We invite you to join us for a networking and learning event, Building Bridges in Nursing Together. We are excited to partner with the Western MA Black Nurses Association and fellow New England Minority Nurse Leadership members and colleagues. This event is open to all Baystate Health employees and community members.

You will hear remarks from Baystate Health, WMBNA, and our keynote speaker and also have the opportunity to network and learn through our vendor tables. Continuing Education credits pending approval. Please join us as we connect and learn together!

Register Here: https://bit.ly/46hsegq

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Meet our Keynote Speaker:

Tonja Santos, MSN, CNM, FACNM (she/her) has worked caring for birthers and families in Springfield, Massachusetts and the surrounding area for almost 20 years. She has been on the faculty of the Baystate Midwifery Education Program during that time and has been Assistant Director of the Division of Midwifery at Baystate Medical Center for the last decade. Tonja has a great interest in quality initiatives and case review processes.

She chairs the Racial Disparities and Health Equity Committee for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with the goal of improving maternal and infant outcomes for BIPOC populations through clinical, systemic and cultural change. She currently serves as member of the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality Review Committee of the Department of Public Health, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The future is bright!⭐

Baystate Wing Hospital is preparing local high school students for their future while exploring the many career opportunities in healthcare with their first-ever Student Ambassador – Mini Medical School Program!

The program is an intensive two-week “mini-medical school” where students learn just some of the many different roles. Nine local students spent two weeks in July at rotating through six different departments, attending educational sessions that were both hands-on and observation, and receiving some training like CPR, How to Stop the Bleed, and hand hygiene. Each day they experienced something new.

“I heard about the Student Ambassador Mini Medical School program during morning announcements at school and decided to put in an application to attend,” said George Wheeler from Belchertown High School.

“I’m interested in a career in healthcare and thought this would allow me to explore different fields of medicine. Every day was a great experience! During the two weeks at Baystate Wing, I rounded in so many different departments and enjoyed learning from everyone. I found it interesting to learn about all aspects of healthcare, from clinical to non-clinical members of the team, especially liked hearing from the finance department and the quality team; together everyone cared that all patients had a good experience.

What I gained from attending Mini Medical School is that I have an interest in clinical rehab, particularly occupational health, and hope to pursue that in college after I graduate next year.”

At the end of the two weeks, a graduation ceremony was held where each student had to give a 3–4-minute slide presentation about their experience and journey through the program to their family and BWH team members.

As they shared the highlights of their hospital experience and journey, they also shared if they were about to determine or reaffirm a career path decision or if they wanted to delve into a particular area further.

“The Student Ambassador Program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Not having had this kind of opportunity when I was in school brings me immense joy to be able to provide the first step in these students' career path,” said Michele LaPrade, volunteer coordinator for the hospital.

“The launch of the Student Ambassador Program – Mini Medical School at Baystate Wing Hospital marks a significant step towards nurturing the healthcare leaders of tomorrow,” said Karli Barrett, chief nursing officer/chief administrative officer for Baystate Wing Hospital. “As the program progresses, it promises to not only enrich the educational journey of each student but also strengthen the bond between our hospital and the communities we serve.”

Great job to all! We look forward to seeing where the future takes you.

The New England Tuberculosis Consortium recently presented pulmonologist Dr. John Landis with the 2024 New England TB Hero award at Baystate Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center.

This annual award recognizes an extraordinary contribution to the care or management of patients with TB and LTBI (latent tuberculosis infection), or an activity that greatly enhanced TB prevention and control efforts in a locality or in a state.

Dr. Landis was honored for his more than 40 years of work in the TB Clinic.
Congratulations, Dr. Landis and thank you for your tireless efforts over the decades caring for this patient population!

When you donate blood this summer, you'll not only help save lives, but you can receive a free ticket to the Big E too, while supplies last!

To schedule an appointment at the Blood Donor Center or to find a list of upcoming community hospital blood drives at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Wing Hospital, please visit BaystateHealth.org/BloodDonor or call 413-794-4600.

The Blood Donor Center located inside of Baystate Medical Center is open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m.-noon. Walk-ins are always welcome!

Join us for an exciting journey towards better health with the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet! Dina Dugan, RD, clinical dietitian at Baystate Noble Hospital, will guide you through everything you need to know. Discover the benefits, explore practical meal plans, and embrace a wholesome way of eating. Don't miss this chance to kickstart your wellness journey!

Register Here: https://bit.ly/46c8niL

Hi, I am Angelino Placanico. I have been at Baystate for nine years, spending four years as an ED technician and five years as a nurse.

I grew up around health care and it always drew me in. My father has been a nurse at Baystate Health for 22 years. I remember hearing stories from his co-workers and thinking that it could be both interesting and fulfilling as a career. I further confirmed this interest while working as an EMT and an advocate for the YWCA during my undergraduate years.

I started as a teaching adjunct for nursing programs in the spring of 2024 and enjoyed it. When the opportunity presented itself, I felt that a role in education would give me the opportunity to help prepare all team members to further their knowledge and practice. I feel that my work as a nurse educator allows me to ensure that our team gets the most up-to-date policies, guidelines, and evidence-based practices so that they can be as competent and productive as possible while they are at work. The team I work with is a very small and close-knit group.

I spent most of my nine years at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, and I became the new guy on the block when I came to work at Baystate Wing Hospital in January of this year. My colleagues didn’t hesitate to make me feel like I had been here for years. I like the fact that I get to meet new people every day and make a difference in their lives. Having conversations with individuals who have a vast array of experiences in life can be very interesting and informative. You get to be social, compassionate, and interested in your job every day.

Overall, I believe that it is most rewarding to have all the experiences I have had in healthcare and to have been able to meet and play a small role in the careers of individuals, as well as the care of the patients that come to the Emergency Department.

The best part of my day is when I get home and get to see my fiancé and two dogs, Toby and Lola. I like to relax while catching a game or a movie on TV. I’m a big fan of sports and am a die-hard Boston fan. I love to watch any professional sports. I played baseball and softball in different leagues until a few years ago, when I transitioned to golf. Every day on the course is both the most exciting and miserable time of my life – if you know, you know.

I think people would be surprised to know that healthcare is so much more than diagnosing and treating patients and that there is so much evolving and changing in healthcare. It takes a team, working tirelessly, from our leaders to our teams in the Med/Surg Unit, Radiology, the Lab, Food and Nutrition Services, and Environmental Services, to name a few, to care for our patients. Every employee is necessary to provide safe healthcare.

🌟 Celebrating a Milestone in Maternal Health Equity! 🌟

We're excited to announce that the Birth Equity and Support through the Inclusion of Doula Expertise (BESIDE) Investment Program, supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, has received the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts’ Innovation Award! 🎉

This initiative has been instrumental in addressing inequities in maternal health care, especially for Black birthing people. By increasing access to and the use of doula services, we've seen a impact on the care and patient experience in our community.

✨ Key Impacts:

-Collaboration with Springfield Family Doulas to provide culturally aligned doula services.
-Over 20 community events to spread awareness about doula care.
-The training of nine new women of color to become doulas, increasing the local doula workforce.

Doulas play a crucial role in achieving optimal outcomes for all birthing people, and their integration into our OB/GYN department has been a vital part of our efforts to combat racism and racial/ethnic disparities.

On June 26, BESIDE’s Principal Investigator, Autumn Versace, CNP, DMP, Director of Baystate’s Division of Midwifery, accepted the award at the PNQIN annual conference.

Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement & the dedicated team behind this transformative program!

Learn more about our efforts around addressing black maternal health disparities: https://bit.ly/3y7lll6

I am Elyena (Ellie) Brotherton, and I have been a medical social worker at Baystate Franklin Medical Center for just over a year. My work here at Baystate Franklin is meaningful because connecting with others is at the heart of what I do, and I feel that my purpose is supporting and empowering those who feel they don’t have a voice.

I was called to the field of social work after navigating my mother’s illness and subsequent death from endometrial cancer in 2015. After witnessing the compassionate and collaborative care my mom received from her medical teams, I knew that I wanted to positively impact other people and families who were experiencing medical crises of their own.

I applied to MSW programs with the intention of becoming a medical social worker. I am thrilled to serve in that capacity today in a community that has come to mean so much to me. I love that my role allows me to hear people’s stories and get to know who they are outside of the walls of the hospital. I love collaborating with other providers to support a patient’s needs.

Prior to coming to Baystate Franklin, I worked as an in-home therapy clinician for a local community mental health agency, and before that, I worked for the Baystate Midwifery program/Baystate Department of Midwifery, and as a certified postpartum doula in the community. I also worked at a daily newspaper.

In my past work as an in-home therapy clinician, I was able to form long-term relationships with the families I was supporting in the community. Now, the work I do is more short-term as I support patients while they are in-patients at Baystate Franklin Medical Center.

In this role, I have much less time to establish trust and rapport with patients than I did when I was working as a therapist in the community. While this can be a challenge, I try to connect with people through curiosity about who they are and what is meaningful to them and by being honest about the trickiness of forming a connection and building trust with a new person in the face of a stressful situation. I like to meet patients where they are and acknowledge that although I am a stranger to them, I genuinely care and want to help in whatever way I can.

Working in a hospital, I’ve had to get familiar with medical terminology, and I still find myself asking questions about certain medical terms I don’t know. I’ve learned a lot, and I know that the learning process will be ongoing, which I love.

I always try to consider the need beneath the behavior, whether it’s considering what might be happening under the surface for a patient or their family member, or for a colleague who is having a hard day. This allows for empathy and understanding, which lends itself to making compassionate connections.

I try to do for my patients what I would do for my own family and friends. I do this by acting as a relentless advocate, by amplifying a patient’s voice when needed, by always digging a little deeper, making one more phone call, and whenever possible, following up post-discharge to make sure that patients were connected to the services they needed.

Laughter gets me through most things and humor, even in hard times, has always been a part of my family culture. Laughing with colleagues, even when things are stressful, helps keep morale high and helps me stay engaged with and connected to those around me. People may be surprised to learn that the ‘team spirit’ at Baystate Franklin is palpable."

Compassionate care is at the heart of everything we do, and Zee Cora shows us a beautiful example of that.

Recently Xiomara (Zee) Cora, a PCT at Baystate Medical Center, noticed she had a new patient who had been transferred from another unit who looked as if he’d had a rough few weeks. The patient had a long, scruffy beard, and as Zee prepared to wash him, on a whim she asked if he would like his beard trimmed or shaved.

“His eyes lit up,” Zee recalls, and he asked, “Could you?” He said that after everything he’d been through, he wanted a new beginning; a fresh start.

Zee decided to add some special touches to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. She put a towel around him and warm washcloths on his face. The patient closed his eyes in bliss during the “spa experience” as Zee began to shave off the beard he’d had for 20 years.

When he saw himself in the mirror, he grew emotional as he viewed the transformation and excitedly began taking photos to send to his wife.

“It touched my heart that something so basic could mean so much to him,” says Zee, who has worked at Baystate for 10 years. “Sometimes going that extra mile can make all the difference.”

Later in his stay Zee gave the patient a fresh shave, which was perfect timing, as he ended up being discharged that day. Before his departure he continued to share how grateful he was and that he’d never forget her.

“I love what I do,” she says, “and I take pride in being able to put care and effort into my patients each day.”