SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —In an effort to improve fitness equity and meet the developing desires of Springfield’s network, Baystate Health today announced a plan to build a comprehensive network fitness center downtown, made possible through the generous help of its longtime partner, MassMutual.
Prior to being transferred to the Baystate Health Foundation, MassMutual cleared the site of existing buildings and subdivided the lot into its own parcel, separate from MassMutual’s headquarters. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.
“Thanks to the generous donations and tremendous contributions provided through MassMutual and the MassMutual Foundation, Baystate Health’s vision of creating an integrated, comprehensive network fitness and wellness center to serve the most vulnerable populations in the greater Springfield area can move toward achievement,” said Baystate Health’s president. Executive Director Mark Keroack, MD.
In addition to MassMutual’s support, the task will also take advantage of some planned state and federal grants. The land to be donated to Baystate Health represents approximately 10% of MassMutual’s approximately 100-acre campus in Springfield. The company’s shift toward digitalization and consolidating its workers at its iconic major construction on State Street has left some of its homes underutilized, adding two vacant buildings. Rather than leave that area unused, the company sought to find a larger, meaningful long-term use for the land, one that would serve the network MassMutual has inhabited since 1851.
“Throughout our long history in Springfield, MassMutual and Baystate have had an unwavering commitment to each other’s good fortune as we work toward our respective but similar goals to help others live better and more fulfilling lives,” said Roger. Crandall, President and Chief Executive Officer of MassMutual. ” We are incredibly proud that a portion of our assets will serve a more meaningful purpose and greater good, expanding access to high-quality healthcare to improve the fitness and well-being of our network for generations to come. . With the new Community Health Center and Wellness Center installed, Baystate Health will consolidate the facilities of 4 of its existing Springfield Health Centers into the new building, where they will continue to provide facilities and more to adult and pediatric patients in the new location. These centers will remain open and fully functional until their facilities can be transferred to the new fitness center and Baystate Health is committed to involving the network and local leaders in the planning phase of the project.
Centers that will transfer to the long-term Wilbraham Road location include:
These existing network services are limited in length and scope and have many infrastructure issues that require significant upgrades and capital investments to enable expansion and expansion of services. The new center will provide Baystate Health with a state-of-the-art facility to provide physically powerful patient care and attract the most productive providers.
“We intend to relocate four of our existing Springfield Community Health Centers into a larger, more modern facility to create this unified wellness center to provide physical care,” Keroack said. “Several converging points have informed our vision. The positive effects we demonstrated in our Medicaid Accountable Care Organization, which engages more than 50,000 of the region’s most underserved patients, has brought prices to this population, improved physical fitness, and allowed us to begin to address fitness disparities and inequities. We couldn’t do this without the generosity of MassMutual and the MassMutual Foundation.
Collectively, the four existing network fitness centers slated for the move recently receive 125,000 patient visits per year. On the network’s planned fitness center campus on the land that will be donated through MassMutual, Baystate Health expects patient visits to increase to a consistent 145,000. with a year until 2028.
“This is a tremendous announcement for the Springfield network that will beautifully reap the advantages of the Pioneer Valley for years to come. “I would like to thank Dr. Keroack and Mr. Crandall for being wonderful stewards of Western Massachusetts, exploring tactics to invest in our communities,” said Congressman Neal. “Baystate Health has a longstanding commitment to improving and expanding access to care throughout Western Massachusetts. As Dr. Keroack nears the end of his tenure, I can’t think of a more wonderful way to celebrate his accomplishments than by unveiling some other initiative that will produce the most productive outcomes for patients in our region.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said, “Two titans of their industries return once combined so that our Springfield Smart Network continues to proactively facilitate smart fitness outcomes, especially when it comes to intellectual fitness issues. My administration was proud to assist this fitness initiative with approximately $1 million in ARPA funding. Again, I thank MassMutual’s President and CEO Roger Crandall for his continued philanthropic efforts, Dr. Mark Keroack, President and CEO of Baystate Health for his continued efforts to invest in fitness. And thank you to Congressman Richard Neal for being our advocate at the federal level. “
As two of the largest organizations in the region, MassMutual and Baystate Health have already combined to reach out to the Springfield community. Here are some examples:
MassMutual has been a caring citizen and a long-time corporate partner of many organizations in the community, including Baystate Health, since the company’s inception in 1851. This historic marriage is an ongoing example of the organization’s commitment to meeting the desires of the greater Springfield area. .
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