SCHEDULE H
(Form 990)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Hospitals
MediumBullet Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, question 20.
MediumBullet Attach to Form 990.
MediumBullet Information about Schedule H (Form 990) and its instructions is at www.irs.gov/form990.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2016
Open to Public Inspection
Name of the organization
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation
 
Employer identification number

22-2537423
Part I
Financial Assistance and Certain Other Community Benefits at Cost
Yes
No
1a
Did the organization have a financial assistance policy during the tax year? If "No," skip to question 6a . . . .
1a
Yes
 
b
If "Yes," was it a written policy? ......................
1b
Yes
 
2
If the organization had multiple hospital facilities, indicate which of the following best describes application of the financial assistance policy to its various hospital facilities during the tax year.
3
Answer the following based on the financial assistance eligibility criteria that applied to the largest number of the organization's patients during the tax year.
a
Did the organization use Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) as a factor in determining eligibility for providing free care?
If "Yes," indicate which of the following was the FPG family income limit for eligibility for free care:
3a
Yes
 
%
b
Did the organization use FPG as a factor in determining eligibility for providing discounted care? If "Yes," indicate
which of the following was the family income limit for eligibility for discounted care: . . . . . . . .
3b
Yes
 
%
c
If the organization used factors other than FPG in determining eligibility, describe in Part VI the criteria used for determining eligibility for free or discounted care. Include in the description whether the organization used an asset test or other threshold, regardless of income, as a factor in determining eligibility for free or discounted care.
4
Did the organization's financial assistance policy that applied to the largest number of its patients during the tax year provide for free or discounted care to the "medically indigent"? . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Yes

 
5a
Did the organization budget amounts for free or discounted care provided under its financial assistance policy during
the tax year? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5a

Yes

 
b
If "Yes," did the organization's financial assistance expenses exceed the budgeted amount? . . . . . .
5b
 
No
c
If "Yes" to line 5b, as a result of budget considerations, was the organization unable to provide free or discountedcare to a patient who was eligibile for free or discounted care? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5c
 
 
6a
Did the organization prepare a community benefit report during the tax year? . . . . . . . . .
6a
Yes
 
b
If "Yes," did the organization make it available to the public? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6b
Yes
 
Complete the following table using the worksheets provided in the Schedule H instructions. Do not submit these worksheets with the Schedule H.
7
Financial Assistance and Certain Other Community Benefits at Cost
Financial Assistance and
Means-Tested
Government Programs
(a) Number of activities or programs (optional) (b) Persons served (optional) (c) Total community benefit expense (d) Direct offsetting revenue (e) Net community benefit expense (f) Percent of total expense
a Financial Assistance at cost
(from Worksheet 1) . . .
    1,021,443 140,279 881,164 1.550 %
b Medicaid (from Worksheet 3, column a) . . . . .     10,461,686 8,657,325 1,804,361 3.170 %
c Costs of other means-tested government programs (from Worksheet 3, column b) . .     857,257 676,140 181,117 0.320 %
d Total Financial Assistance and Means-Tested Government Programs . . . . .     12,340,386 9,473,744 2,866,642 5.040 %
Other Benefits
e Community health improvement services and community benefit operations (from Worksheet 4).     78,172   78,172 0.140 %
f Health professions education (from Worksheet 5) . . .            
g Subsidized health services (from Worksheet 6) . . . .            
h Research (from Worksheet 7) .            
i Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit (from Worksheet 8) . . . .     15,300   15,300 0.030 %
j Total. Other Benefits . .     93,472   93,472 0.170 %
k Total. Add lines 7d and 7j .     12,433,858 9,473,744 2,960,114 5.210 %
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990. Cat. No. 50192T Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page
Part II
Community Building Activities Complete this table if the organization conducted any community building activities during the tax year, and describe in Part VI how its community building activities promoted the health of the communities it serves.
(a) Number of activities or programs (optional) (b) Persons served (optional) (c) Total community building expense (d) Direct offsetting
revenue
(e) Net community building expense (f) Percent of total expense
1 Physical improvements and housing            
2 Economic development     2,000   2,000 0 %
3 Community support            
4 Environmental improvements            
5 Leadership development and
training for community members
           
6 Coalition building            
7 Community health improvement advocacy            
8 Workforce development            
9 Other            
10 Total     2,000   2,000 0 %
Part III
Bad Debt, Medicare, & Collection Practices
Section A. Bad Debt Expense
Yes
No
1
Did the organization report bad debt expense in accordance with Heathcare Financial Management Association Statement No. 15? ..........................
1
Yes
 
2
Enter the amount of the organization's bad debt expense. Explain in Part VI the methodology used by the organization to estimate this amount. ......
2
945,026
3
Enter the estimated amount of the organization's bad debt expense attributable to patients eligible under the organization's financial assistance policy. Explain in Part VI the methodology used by the organization to estimate this amount and the rationale, if any, for including this portion of bad debt as community benefit. ......
3
65,571
4
Provide in Part VI the text of the footnote to the organization’s financial statements that describes bad debt expense or the page number on which this footnote is contained in the attached financial statements.
Section B. Medicare
5
Enter total revenue received from Medicare (including DSH and IME).....
5
20,344,744
6
Enter Medicare allowable costs of care relating to payments on line 5.....
6
21,873,074
7
Subtract line 6 from line 5. This is the surplus (or shortfall)........
7
-1,528,330
8
Describe in Part VI the extent to which any shortfall reported in line 7 should be treated as community benefit.Also describe in Part VI the costing methodology or source used to determine the amount reported on line 6.Check the box that describes the method used:
Section C. Collection Practices
9a
Did the organization have a written debt collection policy during the tax year? ..........
9a
Yes
 
b
If "Yes," did the organization’s collection policy that applied to the largest number of its patients during the tax year
contain provisions on the collection practices to be followed for patients who are known to qualify for financial assistance? Describe in Part VI .........................

9b

Yes

 
Part IV
Management Companies and Joint Ventures(owned 10% or more by officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and physicians—see instructions)
(a) Name of entity (b) Description of primary
activity of entity
(c) Organization's
profit % or stock
ownership %
(d) Officers, directors,
trustees, or key
employees' profit %
or stock ownership %
(e) Physicians'
profit % or stock
ownership %
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page
Part VFacility Information
Section A. Hospital Facilities
(list in order of size from largest to smallest—see instructions)How many hospital facilities did the organization operate during the tax year?1Name, address, primary website address, and state license number (and if a group return, the name and EIN of the subordinate hospital organization that operates the hospital facility)
Licensed Hospital General-Medical-Surgical Children's Hospital Teaching Hospital Critical Hospital ResearchGrp Facility ER-24Hours ER-Other Other (describe) Facility reporting group
1 Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation
115 West Silver Street
Westfield,MA01086
State License #2076
X X         X   Psychiatric and Physical Rehabilitation  
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 4
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 4
Part VFacility Information (continued)

Section B. Facility Policies and Practices

(Complete a separate Section B for each of the hospital facilities or facility reporting groups listed in Part V, Section A)
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation
Name of hospital facility or letter of facility reporting group  
Line number of hospital facility, or line numbers of hospital facilities in a facility
reporting group (from Part V, Section A):
1
Yes No
Community Health Needs Assessment
1 Was the hospital facility first licensed, registered, or similarly recognized by a state as a hospital facility in the current tax year or the immediately preceding tax year?........................ 1   No
2 Was the hospital facility acquired or placed into service as a tax-exempt hospital in the current tax year or the immediately preceding tax year? If “Yes,” provide details of the acquisition in Section C............... 2   No
3 During the tax year or either of the two immediately preceding tax years, did the hospital facility conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA)? If "No," skip to line 12...................... 3 Yes  
If "Yes," indicate what the CHNA report describes (check all that apply):
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
4 Indicate the tax year the hospital facility last conducted a CHNA: 20 15
5 In conducting its most recent CHNA, did the hospital facility take into account input from persons who represent the broad interests of the community served by the hospital facility, including those with special knowledge of or expertise in public health? If "Yes," describe in Section C how the hospital facility took into account input from persons who represent the community, and identify the persons the hospital facility consulted ................. 5 Yes  
6 a Was the hospital facility’s CHNA conducted with one or more other hospital facilities? If "Yes," list the other hospital facilities in Section C.................................. 6a Yes  
b Was the hospital facility’s CHNA conducted with one or more organizations other than hospital facilities?” If “Yes,” list the other organizations in Section C. ............................ 6b Yes  
7 Did the hospital facility make its CHNA report widely available to the public?.............. 7 Yes  
If "Yes," indicate how the CHNA report was made widely available (check all that apply):
a
b
c
d
8 Did the hospital facility adopt an implementation strategy to meet the significant community health needs
identified through its most recently conducted CHNA? If "No," skip to line 11. ..............
8 Yes  
9 Indicate the tax year the hospital facility last adopted an implementation strategy: 20 16
10 Is the hospital facility's most recently adopted implementation strategy posted on a website?......... 10 Yes  
a If "Yes" (list url): See Part V, Section C
b If "No," is the hospital facility’s most recently adopted implementation strategy attached to this return? ...... 10b    
11 Describe in Section C how the hospital facility is addressing the significant needs identified in its most recently conducted CHNA and any such needs that are not being addressed together with the reasons why such needs are not being addressed.
12a Did the organization incur an excise tax under section 4959 for the hospital facility's failure to conduct a CHNA as required by section 501(r)(3)?............................... 12a   No
b If "Yes" on line 12a, did the organization file Form 4720 to report the section 4959 excise tax?........ 12b    
c If "Yes" on line 12b, what is the total amount of section 4959 excise tax the organization reported on Form 4720 for all of its hospital facilities? $  

Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 5
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 5
Part VFacility Information (continued)

Financial Assistance Policy (FAP)
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation
Name of hospital facility or letter of facility reporting group  
Yes No
Did the hospital facility have in place during the tax year a written financial assistance policy that:
13 Explained eligibility criteria for financial assistance, and whether such assistance included free or discounted care? 13 Yes  
If “Yes,” indicate the eligibility criteria explained in the FAP:
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
14 Explained the basis for calculating amounts charged to patients?................. 14 Yes  
15 Explained the method for applying for financial assistance?................... 15 Yes  
If “Yes,” indicate how the hospital facility’s FAP or FAP application form (including accompanying instructions) explained the method for applying for financial assistance (check all that apply):
a
b
c
d
e
16 Was widely publicized within the community served by the hospital facility?........ 16 Yes  
If "Yes," indicate how the hospital facility publicized the policy (check all that apply):
a
https://www.baystatehealth.org/patients/billing-and-financial-assistance
b
https://www.baystatehealth.org/patients/billing-and-financial-assistance
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 6
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 6
Part VFacility Information (continued)

Billing and Collections
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation
Name of hospital facility or letter of facility reporting group  
Yes No
17 Did the hospital facility have in place during the tax year a separate billing and collections policy, or a written financial assistance policy (FAP) that explained all of the actions the hospital facility or other authorized party may take upon nonpayment?.................................. 17 Yes  
18 Check all of the following actions against an individual that were permitted under the hospital facility's policies during the tax year before making reasonable efforts to determine the individual’s eligibility under the facility’s FAP:
a
b
c
d
e
f
19 Did the hospital facility or other authorized party perform any of the following actions during the tax year before making reasonable efforts to determine the individual’s eligibility under the facility’s FAP?............ 19   No
If "Yes," check all actions in which the hospital facility or a third party engaged:
a
b
c
d
e
20 Indicate which efforts the hospital facility or other authorized party made before initiating any of the actions listed (whether or not checked) in line 19. (check all that apply):
a
b
c
d
e
f
Policy Relating to Emergency Medical Care
21 Did the hospital facility have in place during the tax year a written policy relating to emergency medical care that required the hospital facility to provide, without discrimination, care for emergency medical conditions to individuals regardless of their eligibility under the hospital facility’s financial assistance policy?.................. 21 Yes  
If "No," indicate why:
a
b
c
d
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 7
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 7
Part VFacility Information (continued)

Charges to Individuals Eligible for Assistance Under the FAP (FAP-Eligible Individuals)
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation
Name of hospital facility or letter of facility reporting group  
Yes No
22 Indicate how the hospital facility determined, during the tax year, the maximum amounts that can be charged to FAP-eligible individuals for emergency or other medically necessary care.
a
b
c
d
23 During the tax year, did the hospital facility charge any FAP-eligible individual to whom the hospital facility provided emergency or other medically necessary services more than the amounts generally billed to individuals who had insurance covering such care? ............................... 23   No
If "Yes," explain in Section C.
24 During the tax year, did the hospital facility charge any FAP-eligible individual an amount equal to the gross charge for any service provided to that individual? ........................... 24   No
If "Yes," explain in Section C.
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 8
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 8
Part V
Facility Information (continued)
Section C. Supplemental Information for Part V, Section B. Provide descriptions required for Part V, Section B, lines 2, 3j, 5, 6a, 6b, 7d, 11, 13b, 13h, 15e, 16j, 18e, 19e, 20e, 21c, 21d, 23, and 24. If applicable, provide separate descriptions for each hospital facility in a facility reporting group, designated by facility reporting group letter and hospital facility line number from Part V, Section A (“A, 1,” “A, 4,” “B, 2,” “B, 3,” etc.) and name of hospital facility.
Form and Line Reference Explanation
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 5: A wide range of stakeholders took part in the 2016 Coalition CHNA process, including local and regional public health and health departments, other local municipal agencies, diverse community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, and community residents. These stakeholders provided input through focus groups, key informant interviews and participation in the CHNA Steering Committee. Additionally, community listening sessions were conducted to vet findings with community members.The following organizations/community stakeholders were interviewed: Public Health Experts: Caulton-Harris, Helen, Commissioner of Public Health, City of Springfield; Dennis, Soloe, Western Region Director, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH); Garcia, Luz Eneida, Care Coordinator, MDPH Division for Perinatal, Early Childhood and Special Needs, Care Coordination Unit; Hyry-Dermith, Dalila, Supervisor, MDPH Division for Perinatal, Early Childhood and Special Needs, Care Coordination Unit; Merriam, Carolyn, Public Health Nurse, Town of Ware; Metcalf, Judy, Director, Quabbin Health District; O'Leary, Meredith, Director, Northampton Health Department; Steinbock, Lisa, Public Health Nurse, City of Chicopee; Walker, Phoebe, Director of Community Services, Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG); and White, Lisa, Public Health Nurse, Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG). Community Leaders or Health or Other Agencies Interviewed: Adzigirey, Liliya, Translator/ Interpreter, Baystate Noble Hospital; Azeez, Robert, Medicaid Behavioral Health Manager, Health New England; Balder, Dr. Andrew, Director, Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center and Health Care for the Homeless; Beck-Brewer, Joni, Vice President, Patient Services, Square One; Benjamin, Dr. Evan, Chief Quality Officer and Sr. VP of Quality and Population Health, Baystate Health; Blanchet, M.D., Jacques, Director of the Emergency Department, Baystate Noble Hospital; Boos, Dr. Stephen, Medical Director, Baystate Family Advocacy; Bouthillette, Marianne, Director of Child and Family Services, Parent Child Development Center, Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions; Bradley, Leah, Director of Behavioral Health, Baystate Wing Hospital Griswold Center; Cardaropoli, Antonia, School Adjustment Counselor, Ware Junior/Senior High School; Cox, Jennifer, Director of Behavioral Health, Baystate Franklin Medical Center; Crowley, Kelley, Administrative Director of Behavioral Health, Baystate Noble Hospital; Cummings, Sara, Director of Community Services and Asset Development, Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions; Davis, Kim, Nurse Manager, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital; Di Leo, Marlene, Superintendent, Ware Public Schools; Durkin, Dr. Louis, Director of Emergency Medicine, Mercy Medical Center; Gerard, Mary Beth, WIC Director, Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions; Hettler, Dr. Joeli, Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Baystate Health; Higgins, Clare, Executive Director, Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions; Jean-Guillaume, M.D., Rock, Chair of Emergency Medicine, Baystate Wing Hospital; Jock, Jacqueline, School Adjustment Counselor, Ware Middle School; Johnson, Yolanda, Executive Officer for Student Services, Springfield Public Schools; LaBounty, Kerry, Medicaid Program Manager, Health New England; Manser, Katherine, WIC Senior Nutritionist, Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions; Martoccia, Roseann, Executive Director, LifePath; Ostiguy, Karen, Nurse Manager, Baystate Wing Hospital; Paulson, Tina, Nurse Manager, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital; Plourde, Annette, RN, Nurse, Monson Medical Center; Rathlev, Dr. Niels, Chair, Emergency Medicine, Baystate Health; Reilly, Elizabeth, Hardwick Youth Center and Food Pantry; Roose, Dr. Robert, Chief Medical Officer, Addiction Services for the Sisters of Providence Health System; Member of the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse; Russo-Appel, Dr. Maria, Chief Medical Officer, Providence Behavioral Health Hospital (PBHH); Shaver, John, Chief Financial Officer, Baystate Noble Hospital; Shendell-Falik, Nancy, President, Baystate Medical Center and Sr. VP, Hospital Operations, Baystate Health; Silva, David, Medicaid Community Leader, Health New England; Spain, M.D., Jackie, Medicaid Program Medical Director, Health New England; Talati, M.D., Rakesh, Chair of Emergency Medicine, Baystate Franklin Medical; Taylor, Charles, Reverend, United Church of Ware; Velazquez, M.D., Louis, Baystate Wing Griswold Center. The following individuals served on the CHNA Steering Committee, which met monthly over the course of a year with the Coalition and CHNA Consultant Team: Allard, Andrea, President/CEO, YMCA of Westfield; Amador, Ruth, President, National Association of Hispanic Nurses -Western MA Chapter; Ayres, Jim, President and CEO, United Way of Hampshire County; Barber, Tania, President/CEO, Caring Health Center; Blanchette, Mary Ellen, Nurse Leader, Palmer Public Schools; Caisse, Ed, C3/Safe Neighborhood Initiative - South Holyoke, Hampden County Sheriff's Department; Christopolis, Dave, Executive Director, Hilltown CDC; Garozzo, Salvatore, Executive Director, United Cerebral Palsy Assoc. of Berkshire County, Inc.; Graves, Marie, Program Director, Springfield Dept. Health & Human Services; Rudder, Shannon Executive Director, MotherWoman; Lee, Jennifer, Systems Advocate for Change, Stavros Center for Independent Living; Lewandowski, Sue, Representative for Worcester County, Assumption College; Lopez, Luz, Director, MetroCare of Springfield; McCafferty, Gerry, Director of Housing, City of Springfield, Office of Housing; Prullage, Beth, Clinical Social Worker, Providence Behavioral Health; Reeves, Halley, Community Health Planning And Engagement Specialist, MA Dept. of Public Health; Silverman, Risa, Coordinator, Office for Public Health Practice & Outreach, UMASS Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences; Simmons, Tony, Community Liaison, Hampden County District Attorney's Office; Simonds, Jane, Sr. Program Manager, Behavioral Health Network - Outpatient Services; Walker, Phoebe, BFMC CBAC Co-chair, Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG); Wilson, Gloria, Member Western MA Black Nurses Association; Wood, Ben, Healthy Community Design Coordinator, MA Dept. of Public Health.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 6a: In 2016, in partnership with the Coalition of Western MA Hospitals/Insurer, the hospital facility conducted a community health needs assessments ("CHNA") of the geographic area served by the hospital facility. The Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals/Insurer ("Coalition"), a partnership between nine (9) not-for-profit hospitals and an insurer in western Massachusetts that includes: Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Wing Hospital (including Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center), Holyoke Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Mercy Medical Center (part of Sisters of Providence Health System, a member of Trinity Health - New England), Shriners Hospitals for Children - Springfield, and Health New England, a local health insurer whose service area covers the four counties of western Massachusetts.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 6b: The Coalition of Western MA Hospitals and Insurer engaged the Public Health Institute of Western MA (PHIWM), based in Springfield, MA, as the lead consultant to conduct the CHNA's. PHIWM was supported by two other consultant teams; Community Health Solutions, based in Northampton, MA and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), based in Springfield, MA. The Coalition includes Health New England, a local health insurer whose service area covers the four counties of western Massachusetts.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 7d: Part V, Line 7a:https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/community-programs/community-benefits/community-health-needs-assessmentPart V, Line 7b:http://www.cbsys.ago.state.ma.us/cbpublic/public/hccbindex.aspxPart V, Line 7d:The hospital facility made its CHNA report widely available to the public via an email distribution, with links to the hospital's website, to community partners and organizations. The regional findings from the CHNA reports were shared publicly at the Western MA Health Equity Summit in November 2016 (over 300 attendees). In addition, the CHNA reports have informed the development and implementation of county wide community health improvement plans. Hospital and CHNA consultant staff have been invited to various venues and audiences to present on the CHNA process and key findings.Part V, Line 10a:https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/community-programs/community-benefits/community-health-needs-assessment
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 11: The 2016 CHNA was conducted using a determinant of health framework as it is recognized that social and economic determinants of health contribute substantially to population health. It has been estimated that less than a third of our health is influenced by our genetics or biology. Our health is largely determined by the social, economic, cultural, and physical environments that we live in and healthcare we receive.The hospital facility anticipates health needs and available resources may change, therefore, a flexible approach was adopted in the development of its implementation strategy. For example, certain community health needs may become more pronounced and require changes to the initiatives identified by the hospital in the Strategy. Other community organizations may address certain needs, indicating that the hospital's strategies should be refocused on alternative community health needs or assume a different focus on the needs identified in the 2016 CHNA.Hospital resource inputs that will help address priority health needs include, Community Benefits Investments, Community Relations Investments, Better Together Grant Program, hospital-based community benefits activities, external grants received by hospital, and other hospital-based program/services.The hospital facility views a community benefits implementation strategy as a "LIVING" document. Due to the evolving climate in health care, the hospital's financial health year to year remains unknown; therefore hospital resources and inputs may increase, decrease, or need to be modified. The hospital's implementation strategy work plan provides an opportunity for the hospital to be strategic and focused, yet flexible in its community health planning and improvement efforts. The hospital facility, in partnership with its Community Benefits Advisory Council updates the work plan with annual outputs and outcomes for each input and activity.No health care system or hospital facility can address all the health needs present in its community. The hospital facility is committed to adhering to its mission and remaining financially healthy so that it can continue to enhance its clinical excellence and patient experience, as well as continue community health planning and improvement efforts. The hospital facility's implementation strategy does not explicitly address all the priority community health needs identified in the 2016 CHNA due to; 1. the hospital's limited resources (time, talent and financial), 2. other hospitals or community organizations within service area are addressing the need; 3. the need falls outside of the hospitals' mission or limited resource capacity. However, many, if not all of the CHNA priority health needs will be addressed INDIRECTLY by the hospital and/or community partners through existing community health planning and improvement efforts.Needs being addressed by the hospital include cultural humility, health equity, insurance challenges, and mental health and substance use disorders. Needs not directly being addressed the hospital include, basic needs, care coordination, chronic health conditions, food deserts/insecurity, health literacy, limited availability of providers, maternal/infant/child health, physical activity and healthy diet, sexual health, and transportation.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 13b: All patients with account balances (other than balances resulting from co-payments or deductibles on insured services) are eligible to receive a prompt pay discount of 20% of the balance for claims paid in full at time of service or within 60 days of the date of the initial bill. Patients must request the discount. The discount cannot be combined with the Hospital Supplemental Financial Assistance Program. Baystate Noble Hospital offers a co-payment discount program for the patients receiving services in the emergency department of the hospital. This discount program is available to all hospital emergency department patients with co-payment obligations under private or government health insurance (unless prohibited by law or a Baystate Noble Hospital's contract with a private insurer or government authority). These patients may reduce the otherwise applicable emergency department service co-payment by 10% if the patient elects to pay the co-payment at the conclusion of the patient's emergency department visit.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 15e: Baystate Noble Hospital (BNH) provides patients with information about the availability of State Programs, Health Safety Net, or the Hospital Supplemental Financial Assistance Program which may cover all or some of their unpaid BNH bills as well as about BNH discount programs. For those patients who request such assistance, the hospital assists patients by screening them for eligibility in available State Programs and assisting them in applying for such programs. When applicable, BNH may also assist patients in applying for coverage of services as a Medical Hardship based on the patient's documented income and allowable medical expenses. BNH has contracted with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority to serve as a Certified Application Counselor Organization. As a Certified Application Counselor (CAC), appropriate staff will inform a patient of the functions and responsibility of a CAC, seek that the patient sign a Certified Application Counselor Designation Form, and assist the patient in finding applicable financial assistance.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 16j: Paper copies of our financial assistance policy (FAP) and the FAP application, and a FAP plain language summary as well as the Billing and Collections Policy are available upon request, in English, Spanish, and Russian, and free of charge in the hospital and by mail, as well as the hospital facilities website https://www.baystatehealth.org/patients/billing-and-financial-assistance. A plain language summary of the FAP is offered to all patients at all registration sites including our full service health centers in the community - Baystate Brightwood Health Center and Baystate Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center. In addition, copies of the full FAP, FAP application and Billing and Collections Policy are also available at all Registration sites. Copies of our community health needs assessment are available for viewing and download on our website at https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/community-programs/community-benefits/community-health-needs-assessment. Hard copies of our CHNA are available upon request free of charge. We have also shared our CHNA with all the community members who were involved with CHNA as well as each hospitals Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC). The hospital is committed to ongoing efforts to widely publicize our FAP and CHNA to the community, specifically, to low-income populations. Additional efforts will include promotion via our hospitals various social media platforms and providing printed materials to key social service agencies and educating their staff that work with low income populations in the hospitals service area.
Baystate Noble Hospital Corporation Part V, Section B, Line 20e: We rely on Medicaid for presumptive eligibility determinations. We would perform these actions if needed but did not have any patient during the tax year where an ECA was initiated.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 9
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 9
Part VFacility Information (continued)

Section D. Other Health Care Facilities That Are Not Licensed, Registered, or Similarly Recognized as a Hospital Facility
(list in order of size, from largest to smallest)
How many non-hospital health care facilities did the organization operate during the tax year?1
Name and address Type of Facility (describe)
1 1 - Baystate Noble Hospital Sports & Rehab
74 Main Street
Westfield,MA01086
Physical Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 10
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Page 10
Part VI
Supplemental Information
Provide the following information.
1 Required descriptions. Provide the descriptions required for Part I, lines 3c, 6a, and 7; Part II and Part III, lines 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9b.
2 Needs assessment. Describe how the organization assesses the health care needs of the communities it serves, in addition to any CHNAs reported in Part V, Section B.
3 Patient education of eligibility for assistance. Describe how the organization informs and educates patients and persons who may be billed for patient care about their eligibility for assistance under federal, state, or local government programs or under the organization’s financial assistance policy.
4 Community information. Describe the community the organization serves, taking into account the geographic area and demographic constituents it serves.
5 Promotion of community health. Provide any other information important to describing how the organization’s hospital facilities or other health care facilities further its exempt purpose by promoting the health of the community (e.g., open medical staff, community board, use of surplus funds, etc.).
6 Affiliated health care system. If the organization is part of an affiliated health care system, describe the respective roles of the organization and its affiliates in promoting the health of the communities served.
7 State filing of community benefit report. If applicable, identify all states with which the organization, or a related organization, files a community benefit report.
Form and Line Reference Explanation
Part I, Line 6a: The hospital facility files an annual community benefits report electronically with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General's via their website at https://www.mass.gov/nonprofit-hospital-and-hmo-community-benefits. The hospital facility's annual community benefits report is also published on the Baystate Health website at https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/community-programs/ community-benefits/community-health-needs-assessment. The hospital's community benefits report provides the Office of the Attorney General and the general public important information about how the hospital partners with the community to identify and address health needs.
Part I, Line 7: Line 7a (Charity Care) - community benefit expense was calculated by applying the ratio of patient care cost to charges, calculated on Worksheet 2, against total charity care gross patient charges from the audited financial statements.Line 7b (Unreimbursed Medicaid) - community benefit expense was derived by applying the ratio of patient care cost to charges, calculated on Worksheet 2, against inpatient and outpatient gross charges for Medicaid and Medicaid managed care plans.Line 7c (Other Means-Tested Programs) - community benefit expense was derived by applying the ratio of patient care cost to charges, calculated on Worksheet 2, against inpatient and outpatient gross charges for other means-tested government programs.Line 7f (Health Professional Education) - no expense to report for this category in 2017.
Part I, Line 7g: There are no subsidized health services for 2017 to report in Part I, line 7g.
Part II, Community Building Activities: The following description is not quantified specifically in Part II of Schedule H. The hospital facility is committed to creating healthier communities and understands that many state and federally mandated community benefit programs and services are not sufficient to address ethnic, racial and economic health disparities and inequities. The hospital embraces the traditional definition of "health" to include economic opportunity, affordable housing, quality education, safe neighborhoods, food security, social and racial justice, and the arts/culture - all elements that are needed for individuals, families and communities to thrive. The hospital provides many valuable services, resources, programs and financial support - beyond the walls of the hospital and into the communities and homes of the people we serve; including grants and sponsorship of local community-based organizations and the involvement of Baystate leadership with various community board that align with our mission. The hospital facility paid dues to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce totaling $2,000. The hospital participates in the Chamber as we are one of the largest local employers in our service area. The Chamber and its membership coordinate activities toward a common purpose of sustainability and economic growth for the region.
Part III, Line 2: In fiscal year 2013, the organization adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update 2011-07, Health Care Entities (Topic 954), Presentation and disclosure of Patient Service Revenue, Provision for Bad Debts, and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Certain Health Care Entities on October 1, 2012. The update changed how the provision for bad debts is reported on the audited financial statements. In prior years it was included with total operating expenses, and subtracted from total expenses reported in Part IX, Line 25, column (A) for the purpose of calculating the percentages in Part I, Line 7, column (f). In 2017, the provision for bad debts was reported as a deduction to net patient service revenue. The 2017 provision for bad debts totalled $2,620,335 and is not included in total expenses reported in Part IX, LIne 25, column (A) for the purpose of calculating the percentages in Part 1, LIne 7, column (f).
Part III, Line 4: The cost of bad debts reported in Part III, line 2 was calculated by applying the ratio of patient care cost to charges, calculated on Worksheet 2, against total patient bad debt net of recoveries as reported in the audited financial statements. The portion of bad debt that reasonably could be attributable to patients who may qualify for financial assistance under the hospital's charity care program (reported in Part III line 3) was calculated by applying the percentage of bad debts by zip code (for which the average household income for each zip code is less than 150% of the federal poverty level) to the total cost of bad debt reported in Part III line 2. Since this portion of bad debt is attributable to patients residing in an area where the average income is less than 150% of the Federal poverty level, it is highly likely these patients would have qualified for the organization's charity care program had they applied. For this reason, we believe the amount, totalling $65,571, should be treated as community benefit expense in Part I. As noted above, the organization adopted Accounting Standards Update 2011-07 effective October 1, 2012, which changed the way entities report and disclose certain financial information including the provision for bad debts. See footnote #2 (Significant Accounting Policies) on page 12 of the audited financial statements under the caption "Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts" for a description of the organization's reporting of its provision for bad debts.
Part III, Line 8: Line 6 - included all Medicare allowable costs as calculated in Worksheets D-1 Part II (inpatient) and D Part V (outpatient) of the hospital's 2017 Medicare cost report, based on Medicare costing principles. We believe the shortfall reported of $1,528,330 should be treated as community benefit expense for tax reporting purposes because providing care for the elderly is a key component of our commitment to the community. The unreimbursed expenses should be treated similarly to unreimbursed Medicaid since the majority of the local elderly population is not affluent.
Part III, Line 9b: All patient bills and statements contain language referencing available free care programs.
Part VI, Line 2: The Baystate Board Governance Committee convenes semi-annually and is charged with advocating for community benefits at the Board level and throughout the health system and broader community; aligning the system's four (4) hospital-specific community benefits implementation strategies into the health system's strategic plan; review of CHNA data; approval of a community benefits mission statement and health priorities; review impacts of community benefits activities and investments; and ensure Baystate's community benefits are in compliance with guidelines established by the MA Attorney General and IRS. Annually, the Office of Government and Community Relations provides updates to the Baystate Board of Trustees, Baystate President's Cabinet, and other Baystate leadership teams, as requested. The hospital Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC) continues to bring a community lens and filter for the hospital's health priorities. The CBAC provides a community perspective on how to increase wellness and resilience opportunities for optimal health for an entire population; guidance in matching hospital resources to community resources, thus making the most of what is possible with the goal to improve health status and quality of life; and policy advocacy to assure and restore health equity by targeting resources for residents. Participants on the hospital CBAC represent constituencies and communities served by the hospital. CBAC members are responsible for reviewing community needs assessment data and use this analysis as a foundation for providing the hospital with input on its community benefits planning process.
Part VI, Line 3: The hospital is committed to ensuring that patients in its community have access to quality health care services with fairness and respect without regard to the patients' ability to pay. The hospital recognizes the cost of necessary health care services can impose a significant financial burden on patients who are uninsured or underinsured and acts affirmatively to lessen that burden by offering patients in need the opportunity to apply for free or reduced cost services. The hospital not only offers free and reduced cost care to the financially needy as required by law, but has also voluntarily established discount and financial assistance programs that provide additional free and reduced cost care to more patients residing within the communities served by the hospital.The hospital recognizes the billing and collection process can be bewildering and burdensome for patients and has implemented procedures to make the process understandable for patients; to inform patients about discount and financial assistance options; and to ensure that patients are not subject to aggressive collection activities. Consistent with its patient commitment the hospital is required to maintain a financial assistance policy and a billing and collection policy that reflects its financial assistance options and patient billing and collection procedures and complies with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.The hospital has financial counselors available to help patients apply for financial assistance programs that may cover unpaid hospital bills, including a variety of federal and state programs as well as financial assistance through the hospital. Hospital financial counselors have all been trained and certified by the state as Certified Account Counselors to assist patients in applying for available state and federal programs. The hospital is committed to ensuring that patients or prospective patients in the community are aware of financial assistance programs. For uninsured or underinsured patients, the hospital with assist in applying for available financial assistance programs. The hospital notifies patients of the availability of assistance in both the initial bill sent to patients as well as in general notices posted throughout the hospital.When applicable, the hospital also assists patients in applying for coverage of services as a Medical Hardship based on the patient's documented income and allowable medical expenses. The hospital provides, upon request, specific information about the eligibility process to be a Low Income Patient under either the Massachusetts Health Safety Net Program or additional assistance for patients who are low income through Baystate's own internal financial assistance program. The hospital also notifies patients about available payment plans based on their family size and income. Our Financial Assistance Policy and Billing and Collection Policy are posted on the baystatehealth.org website. https://www.baystatehealth.org/patients/billing-and-financial-assistanceThe goal of posting the Financial Assistance Policy and the Billing and Collection Policy is to ensure that patients or prospective patients in our community are aware of our financial assistance programs. Baystate's Billing and Collection Policy was developed to ensure Baystate provides adequate and affordable health care accessible to everyone, regardless of income, social or economic status.Signs about the availability of financial assistance programs at the hospital are translated into Spanish and Russian because Spanish and Russian are primarily spoken by more than 1000 or 1% of the residents in the hospital's service area. Signs are large enough to be clearly visible. Hospital signs are 8.5 x 11 inches and the header print font is 24 pts. Notice of availability of Financial Assistance Programs are posted in the following locations; inpatient, clinic, emergency department admissions and/or registration areas, central admission/registration area, patient financial counselor areas and business office areas that are open to patients.
Part VI, Line 4: Baystate Noble is a 97-bed acute care community hospital providing a broad range of services to the Greater Westfield community. Baystate Noble is able to offer direct access to world-class technology, diagnostics, and specialists as a proud member of the Baystate Health system. Baystate Health and Baystate Noble work to ensure that our patients have access to exceptional health care, close to home. An ideal combination of "high tech and "high touch," a staff of highly trained and compassionate nurses and medical support personnel complements an outstanding medical staff. Services include intensive care, diagnostic imaging, emergency services, cardiopulmonary services and rehab, cancer services, lab and behavioral health. The service area for Baystate Noble includes nine communities, eight of which are located in the western portion of Hampden County. The total population of the service area is almost 100,000 people, and a majority of this population lives in the cities of West Springfield and Westfield. There is a mix of rural and urban populations as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Urban areas consist of census tracts and/or blocks that meets the minimum population density requirement (2,500-49,999 for urban clusters and over 50,000 for urbanized areas) or is adjacent and meet additional criteria. The population is densest surrounding Westfield, West Springfield, and Agawam (CC, US Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2010). The median age of these cities hovers near the county median age of 39. Racial and ethnic diversity is more common in the urban communities, where over 12% of the population identifies as Black or African American, American Indian, Asian, or some other race. Approximately 9% of the service area's population is Hispanic or Latino, and there has been a recent surge in immigrants from Asia and the Middle East to both West Springfield and Westfield. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority connects three of the communities to the Springfield metropolitan area to the east, and to the hospital itself. Paratransit service is also available for people with disabilities within mile of a fixed route to facilitate access to medical care. Annual per capita income in the service area exceeds the county average by about $3,000, and the percentage of those who pay more than 30% of their income for housing costs is below the county rate by more than 4%. The overall poverty rate for this service area is less than 10% -- almost half of the county rate. Child poverty, however, is slightly higher than the county rate of 27%. The population has high rates of education, with over 90% having a high school diploma. The percent of the population with a bachelor's degree or higher is slightly higher than the county rate of 26%. The hospital's service area's unemployment rate of 5.2% is comparable to the county unemployment rate of 4.6%. The unemployment rate is based on the number of people who are either working or actively seeking work. Major employers in the area include the service, wholesale and retail trade, and health care industries.
Part VI, Line 5: The hospital facility has a responsibility to respond to health care needs unsupported by government programs. In exchange for this responsibility, the hospital qualifies for tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3). However, providing hospital care alone is not enough to qualify for tax-exempt status. Hospitals also must operate in the public interest and provide programs that benefit the community. The hospital is fully committed to its role in the community and serves with pride and compassion for people in need.The charitable mission of the hospital facility, a member hospital of Baystate Health (BH), is to improve the health of the people in our communities every day, with quality and compassion. The hospital's Community Benefits Mission is to reduce health disparities, promote community wellness and improve access to care for vulnerable populations. The hospital is committed to meeting the identified health and wellness needs of constituencies and communities served through the combined efforts of Baystate Health's member organizations, affiliated providers, and community partners.The hospital facility meets all of the factors required of medical facilities in order to maintain tax exemption, as first described in Revenue Ruling 69-545. In support of patient care and the medical needs of the communities served by the hospital, medical staff membership and privileges are extended to all qualified physicians and practitioners in western Massachusetts who meet the requirements for credentialing and clinical privileges, whether employed by a related Baystate entity or community-based. The hospital's emergency department is open to all in need of care and services; no one requiring emergency care is denied treatment. In addition, surplus funds from operations are generally applied, as permitted, to the following; improvements in patient care, expansion and renovation of existing facilities, purchase and replacement of equipment, debt service, expenses associated with training of physicians and other health care professionals, professional development of medical and other clinical staff, and the support of scientific, translational, and clinical research.Baystate Health's volunteer Board of Trustees, the governing body of the organization and its affiliates, is comprised of the President and Chief Executive Officer of Baystate Health and up to twenty-two (22) other elected Trustees who are representative of the broad range of interests which exist in the communities served by Baystate Health and its affiliates. The Governance Committee oversees the nomination of Trustees and submits recommendations to the Board of Trustees for membership on the various Board committees. In considering nominations or recommendations for trustees, directors, committee members or officers the Governance Committee select nominees who are representative of the various and diverse constituencies served by Baystate Health and its affiliates. In particular the Committee nominates persons who are representative of the community consumer interests of the various neighborhoods and localities which are served by Baystate Health and its affiliates in the carrying out of and pursuant to the charitable mission of the Baystate Health and its affiliates.The hospital's Patient and Family Advisory Council facilitate patients and families to share information and advise the hospital regarding policies and programs. Information from the Council provides hospital leadership with an enhanced understanding of how to improve quality, program development, service excellence, communications, patient safety, facility design, patient and family education, patient and family satisfaction, and loyalty.Please refer to the section above in line 2 for additional examples of the hospital's responsiveness to the community and opportunities for community involvement; including the Board of Trustees' Governance Committee, Community Benefits Advisory Council, and Community Health Needs Assessment. For additional information, please see Line 6 below.
Part VI, Line 6: Baystate Health, Inc. is the parent entity of a multi-institutional integrated delivery system composed of four hospitals and other 501(c)(3) organizations. The four hospitals include Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital, and Baystate Wing Hospital (and Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center); the other 501(c)(3) organizations include Baystate Medical Practices, Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Western New England, Noble Visiting Nurse Services, Inc., Baystate Administrative Services, and Baystate Health Foundation. In addition to its nearly 12,000 employees, Baystate Health has residents and fellows, medical students, nursing students, and allied health students who gain comprehensive medical education during the year. A recognized leader in educational innovation, Baystate Medical Center has been training doctors since 1914. Now the regional campus of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, we offer: 10 ACGME-accredited residencies; 20+ fellowships; 50 4th-year electives for medical students; and Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH)-a curriculum track of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. We are a nationally accredited provider of continuing education for the entire team of health care professionals. Continuing education is provided through regional conferences, grand rounds, and internet courses ,We offer clinical practicums for baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral-level nursing students at affiliated schools of nursing. We offer four pharmacy residencies-two PGY1 programs and two PGY2 programs-through our affiliations with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, and Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Science. We also offer Advanced Practitioners education including: Midwifery Education Program, Physician Assistant Residency in Emergency Medicine, and Clinical rotations for Advanced Practice students. Volunteers enhance the work of our employees and interactions with our patients and families. In 2017, more than 1,053 volunteers donated over 86,000 hours showing their belief in the care we provide to our community.Baystate Franklin Medical Center, located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, is an 89-bed acute care hospital that boasts a state-of-the-art surgical center. The hospital provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services including 24-hour emergency, heart & vascular, cancer care, behavioral medicine, and family-centered obstetrical care.Baystate Medical Center (BMC) is a 713-bed, 57-bassinet, academic medical center in Springfield, Massachusetts which has Medical staff of over 1,300 physicians. Baystate Medical Center was awarded magnet hospital designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is ranked third among hospitals in MA by U.S. News & World Report, with the highest rating in nine procedures or conditions. BMC was named a top 50 cardiovascular hospital by Watson Health. Baystate Medical Center Emergency & Trauma Center is the busiest single-site emergency department in Massachusetts and the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center serving over 120,000 adult and pediatric patients. Baystate Reference Laboratories, part of Baystate Medical Center, Inc., is the region's largest reference laboratory and is staffed by 24 board-certified pathologists and over 500 technologists and support personnel.Baystate Children's Hospital, part of Baystate Medical Center, is the only accredited full-service children's hospital and pediatric-specific emergency department in western Massachusetts. It provides primary and advanced medical care to babies, children, adolescents, and their families.Baystate Noble Hospital, a 97-bed community hospital located in Westfield, Massachusetts offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient services for over 80,000 residents in the Westfield, Massachusetts area including surgery, pulmonary rehabilitation and acute inpatient rehabilitation, cardiac, behavioral health, and emergency care. Baystate Noble Hospital's network also includes Noble Medical Group Primary Care physicians and specialists, Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Western New England, Noble Visiting Nurse Services, Inc., and Noble Sports & Rehabilitation Center.Baystate Wing Hospital, a 74-bed community hospital located in Palmer, Massachusetts, offers 24-hour emergency care and a broad range of inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services, including comprehensive outpatient behavioral health and addiction recovery services. Satellite facility Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center offers 24-hour emergency services, and outpatient medical, surgical, ancillary, and cancer care.Baystate Medical Practices (BMP) is a multi-specialty group of over 950 physicians and advanced practice clinicians in primary care, specialty, and surgical disciplines with more than 100 practices across 85 locations. BMP offers patient-centered care, including: family practice, internal medicine and pediatric providers, community health centers, urgent care clinics, suburban and rural practices. Many sites are designated Patient Centered Medical Homes, signifying our emphasis on communication with patients, collaboration among providers, and continuity of care. BMP's policy is to provide care to any patient in need of medical care, regardless of the patient's ability to pay for such care. Dependent upon the patient's financial capability to pay and consistent with BH and BMP policy, BMP may provide such care free of charge or at amounts below its normal charges. In 2017 BMP provided $ $1,521,968 in charity care. In addition to the charity care provided to patients, BMP's physicians participate in many and varied ongoing community outreach initiatives in the areas of education, employment, safety and health. BMP has also taken a leadership role in strengthening the health of disadvantaged citizens in surrounding communities including specific focus on AIDS and HIV and by providing physician staffing for three community-based health centers through Baystate Medical Center.Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Western New England, and Noble Visiting Nurse Services, Inc. provide the highest quality care and supplies to patients and families, primarily in their homes. It is a comprehensive in-home health care, hospice, and palliative care agency with a staff of over 450 managing more than 90,000 visits annually. Our home health team works together to ensure a safe and swift recovery from illness, accident, or surgery in the comfort of home. Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Western New England, and Noble Visiting Nurse Services, Inc. offers medical expertise through our extensive network of caregivers to support patients facing a serious or life limiting illness. Each patient and family is cared for by our certified and experienced nurses, therapists, social workers, hospice aides, spiritual and bereavement counselors, and volunteers. This care team works together, with both the patient and family, to bring understanding, comfort, dignity and a sense of peace, as each patient journey towards the final stage of life.In addition to the brief descriptions of the affiliated entities above, this further information speaks to activities of Baystate Health and its affiliates regarding promotion of community health.In 2017, over 199,000 language interpreter sessions helped patients and families better understand their care. Staff interpreted about 59 languages in person, over the phone, and via video, and translated 3,293 pages of patient-related information. In partnership with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Baystate Health is now the regional campus for an innovative new curriculum track called PURCH (Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health). The PURCH track focuses on addressing the social determinants of health for our patients. Twenty-one students enrolled in the first year (2017), fifteen of whom are Massachusetts residents. The PURCH track is designed to prepare students to care for Baystate's diverse patient populations by providing classroom and clinical experiences in a variety of clinical settings, led by faculty who have expertise in population health and clinical effectiveness research. The goals of the program are to increase access to students in Massachusetts seeking an affordable medical education; to respond to the health care needs of the Commonwealth by increasing the number of Massachusetts physicians trained in urban and rural primary care; and to apply proven academic research methods to improve population health, reduce health disparities, and make health care better integrated, more efficient, and more effective.
Form 990, Schedule H, Part VI, Line 6 The Nurse Residency Program expanded to all Baystate Health hospitals. In 2017 Baystate welcomed 140 Nurse Residents providing both advanced curricular activities and fellowship activities to ease the transition from school to practice. Baystate's Nurse Residency Program is a one-year program for newly graduated registered nurses, offering hands-on clinical experience, in-depth learning through monthly seminars, participation in evidence-based projects, and ongoing professional development. Baystate Health has hired 366 new graduate nurse residents from the program to-date.Baystate Health is committed to continuing education programs in 30 different professional areas through partnerships with Elms College, Springfield College, Western New England University, STCC, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, Westfield State University, and many others. Our post graduate programs expanded to 10 medical residencies and 20 fellowships, including new fellowship training programs in hospital medicine and gastroenterology. In addition, Baystate Medical Center welcomed 1,770 new residents, fellows, medical students, nursing students, and allied health students.Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership (BSEP) ran courses for 251 students, primarily residents of Springfield. During the summer, BSEP provided theme-based workshops for 78 students, coordinated 21 summer internships at Baystate Medical Center, and placed 16 students in work experiences as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program and the YouthWorks program, both sponsored by the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. To 29 alumni of its program, BSEP awarded a total of $54,500 in scholarships for undergraduate and graduate education. The seven-year total of scholarships awarded now exceeds $650,000.Baystate Awarded Research Grants. In 2017, Baystate received research grants from the National Institute of Health including: $2.55 million to study the use of pulmonary rehabilitation by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following hospital discharge, $1.2 million to study the epidemiology and service accessibility for people who use opioids in rural northern New England. Total grant funding has increased by more than 50% over the past five years.Baystate Health and its affiliates are committed to providing the communities they serve throughout western Massachusetts with the resources necessary to stay informed and healthy by providing both basic and extensive educational opportunities such as parent education classes, including "Baystate's New Beginnings". Also offered are breastfeeding classes, prenatal/postnatal classes, and infant/toddler safety classes. Some classes are free while others are offered at a reasonable fee. No one is turned away due to inability to pay. Baystate Health offers many free parenting support groups including breastfeeding gatherings, new parents groups, toddler groups, parents of multiples groups, and a MotherWoman support group. Most of these groups meet weekly. In addition, Baystate Health has a health science library staffed by professionals who help patients, families and the general public access reliable health information.Baystate Medical Center provides a safe way to dispose of unwanted medications and sharps. Community members now have a resource for safely and confidentially throwing away household sharps (needles and other sharp or glass medical tools), thanks to collection receptacles now installed in the Daly lobby at Baystate Medical Center. These secure kiosks are available to the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the first six months of the program, 300 pounds of medications and 330 pounds of sharps were deposited and sent for safe disposal.With the help of Baystate Franklin Medical Center's EMPOWER (Engaging Mothers for Positive Outcomes With Early Referrals) program, a team of nurses and doctors at Baystate Medical Center implemented an innovative program called "rooming-in" where babies at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (a condition where babies need treatment for symptoms of withdrawal after birth) stay in a private hospital room with their mothers after birth. The program allows mothers to care for their babies while receiving specialized nursing support. Results of the program show that babies are requiring less to no medication to treat withdrawal symptoms and their hospital lengths of stay are shorter. This was a wonderful example of collaboration between the two hospitals, utilizing Baystate Franklin's expertise and working together to address the Opioid crisis in our communities. In 2017, Baystate Health certified Specialty Pharmacy liaisons saved patients an estimated $5 million dollars in out-of-pocket medication expenses. Liaisons are located in multiple outpatient practices including the Children's Specialty Center, the D'Amour Center for Cancer Care, and Baystate Franklin Medical Center to help ensure patients have access to critically needed and often expensive medications. The Mini-Medical School program is an eight-part health education series offered at Baystate Medical Center featuring a different aspect of medicine each week. Designed for an adult audience, each course is taught by an energetic faculty member who will explain the science of medicine without resorting to complex terms. Mini-Medical School gives Baystate Health the opportunity to open our doors to the public and share our knowledge of medicine in a comfortable and friendly environment. Many of the students participate due to a general interest and later find that many of the things they learned over the semester are relevant to their own lives. The goal of this program is to help members of the public make more informed decisions about all aspects of their health care while receiving insight on what it's like to be a medical student. Tuition is $95 per person, $80 for Senior Class and Every Woman members. Mini Medical School Alumni is 1,934 members. Baystate Health offers 50+ free programs to seniors and women. Baystate Health Senior Class is a loyalty program dedicated to health and wellness for men and women ages 55 and over. The 21,300 Senior Class members receive a quarterly newsletter with valuable health information, benefits and invitations to special events designed with their interests in mind. Baystate Every Woman Loyalty Program offers its 15,730 members 50+ monthly seminars with direct access to physicians, nurses and other medical professionals and the latest women's health information. The program is designed to increase knowledge of women's health issues so they are well prepared to make the best decisions regarding their health.Baystate home buying program helped employees purchase their first homes. In 2017, 25 employees were awarded forgivable loans to purchase their first home through the Mark R. Tolosky Baystate Neighbors Program. This Baystate Health benefit provides forgivable loans to employees purchasing their first homes in the communities surrounding Baystate Health hospitals. To-date, the program has provided more than $1.7 million in forgivable home loans.Since its inception in 1994, Rays of Hope has been helping women and men in the fight against breast cancer by walking alongside them on their cancer journey. Through the Baystate Health Breast Network, Rays of Hope cares for the whole person from diagnosis and beyond by supporting research at the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research, providing funding for state-of-the-art equipment, breast health programs and outreach and education throughout Baystate Health as well as providing grants for complementary therapies and cancer programs to our community partners throughout western Massachusetts. Now in its 25th year, Rays of Hope has raised over $14.2 million to date. All funds raised remain local in western Massachusetts. The United Way develops and supports programs that directly improve the lives of people in our communities, a mission proudly shared by Baystate Health. Baystate Health is a strong supporter of the United Way, and a major contributor to the organization with workforce campaigns and thousands of employee donors and volunteers. Baystate Health's contributions help the United Way serve our families, friends, colleagues and others who seek help in different ways and at different times in their lives. Three community campaigns are held annually: Springfield, Westfield, and Palmer workplace to support the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Greenfield workplace to support the United Way of Franklin County and Ware workplace to support the United Way of Hampshire County. Employees can direct their donations to one or all of the United Way's action areas: Education, Income and Health or designate to a qualified agency with a minimum contribution.
Form 990, Schedule H, Part VI, Line 6 See also additional information regarding Baystate Health, Inc. and its affiliate's promotion of community health above in Line 5.
Part VI, Line 7, List of States Receiving Community Benefit Report MA
Schedule H (Form 990) 2016
Additional Data


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