Baystate Health

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. J. Michael Munger as the new Chief of Emergency Medicine Services at Baystate Wing Hospital, effective January 5, 2025. Dr. Munger joins us with a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of care, patient safety, and community health. Dr. Munger will enter this role with a wealth of experience within Baystate Health’s Department of Emergency Medicine, having completed his residency at UMass Chan-Baystate in 2020 and having served as Associate Chief of the Baystate Wing ED over the past two years. Notably, he has led initiatives in pediatric emergency preparedness and emergent airway care which have significantly improved patient outcomes and team effectiveness. As ED Chief at Wing, Dr. Munger will collaborate with clinical and administrative leadership to advance clinical excellence and efficiency. Additionally, Dr. Munger will focus on various quality improvement projects in collaboration with other service lines at Baystate Wing, nursing leadership, and network leadership throughout Baystate Health. We are excited about the vision and expertise he brings to our team and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our department, our patients, and our community. As we welcome Dr. Munger to his new role, we also want to express our gratitude to Dr. Joe Sills for his leadership at Baystate Wing over the last several years. We look forward to Dr. Sills’ continued contribution to our Emergency Medicine team as he transitions into his new role as Adult Chief of Emergency Medicine at Baystate Medical Center.

As we close out National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we celebrate our team for being awarded as a 4-star family caregiver rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) based on patient and family experience survey outcomes. A heartfelt congrats to our teams across Baystate Hospice. Your compassion, dedication, and commitment to providing exceptional care make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many. Learn more: https://bit.ly/411F4Pg

Happy Thanksgiving! This season is all about gratitude, and we’re so thankful for the privilege of caring for our incredible community. 💙 A heartfelt thank you to our 13,000 team members who show up every day (and night!) with compassion, dedication, and empathy to care for our patients when they need us most. You are the heartbeat of our vibrant community, serving vibrant communities. A special thank-you to those working this holiday to support patients and families—you are truly appreciated. Wishing everyone moments of peace, hope, and gratitude this Thanksgiving.

"My name is Emily Stout, and I am an NP with the inpatient Palliative Care team. I have always wanted to be a nurse. My career as an NP has been guided by my personal and clinical experiences. One defining moment that led me to Palliative Care was my grandmother’s journey with multiple myeloma and treatment. I clearly recall the thanksgiving dinner when she presented a newspaper article to my family about a person with a serious illness. This article helped her share with us what she felt was her acceptable quality of life and her wishes for medical care in the future. A few years later, at the end of her life, we were able to make decisions that we knew were in alignment with her hopes for her final days of care. I will forever remember her and the gift of clarity she gave us. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is my time spent with patients and their support network. They share with me a narrative of a life lived, and what is of most value to them in their world. Along with my colleagues, I enjoy using these stories to advocate for the care of the patient. Care that matches their preferences and values. A message that I would have for someone who may be reading this with a family member who is near the end of life or recently lost a family member is to never hesitate to share your loved one’s stories or photos with their care team. If you are comfortable, we always want to know about you and your loved one. Sharing photos and stories helps us understand what is important to you and the person you love." #MyBaystateStory

"We've developed that improvement plan to enable us, when executed, to invest $1.2 billion over a five- to six-year period, reinvest in our people, reinvest in services and programs that our community needs, investing in technology, including digital, engaging partnerships with other healthcare organizations where we've got a truly remarkable community health center plan for Springfield. We've got a lot of opportunities to reinvest, and that's our goal: to take the headwinds head-on and be there for our community over the next 140 years," Peter Banko, President and CEO, Baystate Health. Recently Peter shared with Becker's Healthcare future plans to stabilize Baystate Health and continue our work of advancing care and enhancing lives. Read More: https://bit.ly/3YXUku1

A heartfelt congrats to Pamela Fournier, RN, recipient of the 2024 Noble Spirit Award, given at this year's Baystate Noble Ball hosted by the Baystate Health Foundation. Her commitment to delivering compassionate care and going above and beyond for her community shines through every day. This well-deserved recognition highlights Pamela’s unwavering dedication to improving lives and making a difference in healthcare. Please join us in congratulating Pamela. Read More: https://bit.ly/3Zlu4uY

"First and foremost, I am a mom to two beautiful teenage children who keep my heart whole and my world bright. They inspire me daily, both in my personal life and in the work I do for others. I have always been drawn to the health field, particularly working with children, but my true path to becoming a massage therapist began with the birth of my second child. He faced health challenges as an infant, and it was through caring for him that I discovered my passion for massage therapy. I was able to use therapeutic techniques to bring him comfort and relief, and from there, my desire to help other children grew. I realized that massage therapy offered a gentle, non-invasive way to help children manage pain and discomfort, and I was determined to pursue it as a career. To deepen my skills and knowledge, I continued my education, becoming a Reiki Master and studying aromatherapy. I also became certified in massage techniques tailored to specific diagnoses, including care for transplant patients, cancer patients, and those nearing end-of-life. These additional skills allow me to offer more comprehensive care to my patients, addressing both their physical and emotional needs. For the past six years, I have worked as the massage therapist for the Baystate Pediatric Palliative Care Team, where I am fortunate to serve children with serious medical conditions, as well as their families. Each day is different, and no two experiences are ever quite the same. What makes our program unique is that we extend care not only to our patients but also to their parents, helping to bring relief and support to the entire family during some of their most challenging times. The most rewarding aspect of my work is knowing that I can make a difference in the quality of life for each patient I see, bringing calmness, comfort, and a brighter day to those who need it most. The ability to touch the lives of both the children and their families is incredibly fulfilling, and I am honored to be part of a team that provides such compassionate, holistic care. However, this work also comes with its challenges, particularly the loss of patients. While we understand that loss is inevitable in palliative care, it never becomes easier. Losing a young patient is especially difficult, as it is a poignant reminder of how precious life is. Despite the sorrow, I find comfort in knowing that each child received the best care possible and that their days were made brighter by our team. The impact that each of them has on us is profound, and their memory stays with us as we continue to care for others." - Amberly Matt, LMT, Pediatric Palliative Care, Home Health & Hospice #MyBaystateStory

Teamwork and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. Recently, Sara Scagliarini, a dedicated patient care technician on Springfield 3 Oncology, exemplified this spirit when she discovered that one of her cancer patients was a veteran. Wanting to honor their service, Sara collaborated with Dr. Joseph Kimatu from Spiritual Services and worked with the Veteran Affairs office to make a meaningful gesture. Thanks to their teamwork, the Springfield 3 Oncology team was able to surprise the patient with a beautifully presented American flag. The moment was unforgettable, reminding us of the power of collaboration and thoughtful care in transforming the patient experience. A heartfelt thank you to Sara, Dr. Kimatu, and all involved for going above and beyond to deliver not just exceptional care, but exceptional humanity.

Congratulations to our newest PHIL Award recipient, Beth Levesque, a NICU respiratory therapist! The PHIL Award honors the unsung heroes in the respiratory profession who understand that each breath matters. Beth has been with Baystate Health for 25 years and is an essential part of life-saving patient care in the Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Recently her expertise, knowledge and exceptional respiratory skillset was noted during an external transport when she was able to assess and treat a baby and transport the infant safely to our PICU. Beth shares her knowledge and skillset with all healthcare givers in the NICU. She is always advocating her patients and family members and has gone above and beyond in the NICU making lasting connections with family members, ensuring they feel comfortable and confident with the care their baby receives in the NICU. Congratulations, Beth and thank you for the life-giving care you provide to some of our youngest patients!

We are honored to share that Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital, and Baystate Wing Hospital – all earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ grade excel in 22 evidence-based measures and earn a financial return by actively protecting patients from harm and improving outcomes such as reduced length of stay and mortality rates. “Our goal is to achieve high reliability in the healthcare delivery processes, leading to best possible patient outcomes, patient safety, and optimal caregiver and patient experience,” said Yvonne Cheung, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Baystate Health. “As we celebrate these achievements, Baystate Health will continue to do the work that will improve our ability to provide safe, quality care every day, and remain a leader in healthcare.” Congratulations to our teams across all three hospitals. This recognition reflects the unwavering dedication of our entire team to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care and upholding the highest standards of safety and quality in every aspect of healthcare.