Winter 2013 - Baystate Health

Your Guide to Healthy Living
Baystate Health
Winter 2013
Enhanced
Emergency
Care
in Springfield
and Ware
Page 9
Why Your Next
Doctor’s
Appointment
May Be with a Nurse
Page 11
New Procedure a
“Game
Changer”
for Patients with
Heart Disease
Page 5

Health Beat
Exercise and
hydration:
two steps you
can take to stay
healthy this
winter.
Produced by
Marketing &
Communications,
Baystate Health
280 Chestnut
Street,
Springfield
MA 01199
Editor in Chief
Suzanne Hendery
Managing
Editors
John Bidwell
Sue Spiry
Contributors
Jill Messier
Ellen Missale
Erica Moulton
Design
Melanie Emig
Photography
Todd Lajoie
Kent Spiry
Read this and
back issues of
Baystate Health
magazine
online at
baystatehealth.
org/bhmagazine
1
2
3
4
1 Baystate Health Winter 2013
7
Tips
Winter Health Survival Guide
Winter is in full swing and along
with it come the changes in
weather, temperature, and the
amount of light during the day.
This can have physical and psychological effects on your
body that can also impact your overall health.
“Being confined indoors with others increases our exposure
to colds and the flu, and traveling exposes us to
new viruses,” says Dr. Muhammad Gul, medical director,
Baystate Medical Practices - Quabbin Adult Medicine.
To help you and your family stay healthy this year, Gul
offers the following winter health tips:
Wash your hands. It’s the most effective way to ward
off the spread of most viral diseases. Carry a bottle of
hand sanitizer for when you can’t wash your hands.
Get a flu shot. Everyone six months and older should
get a flu vaccine each year. New flu vaccines are released
every year to keep up with rapidly adapting flu viruses.
Eat healthy. It can be tempting in the cold months to
fill up on unhealthy comfort food, but it’s important
that you still keep your diet healthy by including five
portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Drink up. You have probably heard how important it
is to drink plenty of fluids when you are ill, but it’s just
as important for preventing illness. Adequate hydration
keeps the tissues of the respiratory system moist,
which prevents microbes from settling in. Water is best.
5
6
7
Exercise. Regular exercise has been proven to boost
your immune system and make you feel more
energetic. It also reduces the production of stress
hormones such as cortisol. A recent study showed that
men with higher levels of activity experienced a 35% reduction
in number of colds and women a 20% reduction.
Get enough sleep. This is vital; lack of sleep can
contribute to health problems such as high blood
pressure, weight gain, and a decrease in your immune
system’s power to fight off illness.
Don’t smoke. Studies show that smokers have more
frequent and severe colds. Secondhand smoke also
makes people more susceptible to respiratory
illnesses. If you smoke, talk to your primary care
provider to help you quit. Get the support of friends
and family to help you succeed.
Preventive medicine is a key component to maintaining
a healthy lifestyle regardless of the time of year.
Developing an ongoing relationship with your health
care provider who knows you and your medical history
leads to a better overall outcome and lower costs.
For a referral to a Baystate Medical Practices
primary care provider near you, call
1-800-377-4325 or visit baystatemedicalpractices.org

Convenient Care for Sports Injuries
The Sports Medicine Program at Baystate Franklin Medical
Center has a new name: Baystate Medical Practices-
Sports and Exercise Medicine. Under the direction of
medical director Dr. Darius Greenbacher, and using the
most current non-surgical treatments, injured athletes
of all ages are back in the game as quickly as possible.
Clinic hours are currently available in Greenfield and
South Hadley and coming soon to Northampton.
To schedule an appointment, call 413-773-2220.
Make Baystate Part of
Your Health Team, Too!
Baystate Emergency Medicine’s Dr. John Santoro (pictured with players from
the Falcons), along with Drs. Glenn Alli, Eugene Boss, Darius Greenbacher,
Joseph Schmidt, and Julio Martinez-Silvestrini, are proud to serve as the
team physicians for the Springfield Falcons hockey team, Springfield Armor
basketball team, and the New England Mutiny soccer team. Make Baystate
part of your winning health care team, too. For a referral to one of our
providers, call 1-800-377-4325.
Specialty Care in
Greenfield
If you live in the northern Pioneer Valley,
you don’t have to travel far to access the
comprehensive services offered through
Baystate Health.
Specialists at 48 Sanderson Street, Greenfield,
adjacent to Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Baystate Heart & Vascular Program:
Cardiologists Drs. Timothy Egan, Amir Lotfi,
and Thomas Marantz; and vascular surgeons
Drs. Neal Hadro, Mark Hirko, Sang Won Rhee
and Marc Norris, 855-414-0240
BMP - Gastroenterology:
Dr. Pikeshkumar Patel, 413-773-2655
BMP - Greenfield Neurology:
Dr. Rajiv Padmanabhan, 413-773-2488
BMP - Greenfield Surgery: Drs. Thampi
Ampadi, Stephen Fox, Alan McClelland,
and Satish Muthavarapu, 413-773-2626
BMP - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:
Dr. J. David Richmond, 855-414-0240
BMP - Sports and Exercise Medicine:
Dr. Darius Greenbacher, 413-773-2220
BMP - Valley Orthopedic Surgery & Sports
Medicine: Dr. Brian Hoffman, 413-773-2220
BMP - Pioneer Women’s Health:
Drs. Christopher Mills, Linda Polonsky,
Julie Anne Thompson, John McNamara; and
certified nurse midwives: Deborah Billings,
Holly Ann Christensen, Anne Corrinet,
Cathryn Kokonowski, Laura Maycock, and
Mary Paterno, 413-773-2200
Specialists at Baystate Franklin Medical
Center, 164 High Street, Greenfield
Baystate Regional Cancer Program: Drs.
Deborah Katz and John McCann, and nurse
practitioner Trish McGovern, 413-773-2251
BMP - Greenfield Pulmonary & Sleep
Medicine: Drs. Robert Ajello and Sunil
Dhunna, and nurse practitioner Kathryn
Aubry-McAvoy, 413-773-2840
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 2

Health Beat
Choosing a
Primary Care Provider
I grew up in Springfield,
and remember doctors
like my dad, who had a
Dr. Mark Keroack, President, solo office right in our
Baystate Medical Practices
house in the Sixteen
Acres neighborhood of East Springfield. Those
were simpler times.
These days, medicine has become much more
of a team sport, with multiple providers needing
to coordinate care to achieve the highest quality
and safest outcomes for patients.
Even today though, it’s important to have that one
doctor who knows all about you and follows your
care over time. That’s why when I picked my primary
care provider, I chose Baystate Medical Practices.
My doctor practices in a larger center, called a
Patient Centered Medical Home, and he works as a
member of a team of professionals. He has access
to Baystate’s advanced electronic medical records
that allows him to see all the information about my
care, no matter where I go in the Baystate system.
There is also a nurse in the practice called a care
coordinator, who makes sure patients receive all
their needed preventive care on schedule, and
that patients with chronic conditions get the care
they need in a timely way to stay healthy.
Modern medicine can do a lot more for you than
could the doctors I knew growing up, but it has
also gotten a lot more complicated and specialized.
If you are selecting a primary care provider,
make sure he or she has all the tools they need
to keep all aspects of your care coordinated,
like my doctor does. Baystate Medical Practices
comprises over 600 providers associated with
Baystate Health in 70 medical practices up and
down the Pioneer Valley, covering nearly all adult
and pediatric specialties.
To learn more about the primary and specialty
care providers of Baystate Medical Practices,
visit baystatemedicalpractices.org. For a free referral
to a provider near you, call 1-800-377-4325.
A New Pain Relief Option
LaserTouchOne is a handheld device that is revolutionary in the treatment of pain.
A clinical study demonstrated that the LaserTouchOne was 93% effective in decreasing pain in
participants who received the full treatment regimen. It combines low-level laser therapy and micro-current
electrical stimulation to provide safe, easy-to-use pain relief. For a free demonstration or to purchase the
LaserTouchOne, visit the Baystate Home Infusion retail store at 489 Bernardston Road in Greenfield or
85 South Street in Ware. Learn more at baystatehealth.org/bhirs
Free Guide!
Request your complimentary copy of
the Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Medical Staff Directory and Guide to
Services. Call 413-773-2284.
3 Baystate Health Winter 2013

Introducing Pediatric Surgeon
Dr. Michael Tirabassi
Dr. Tirabassi joins Drs. Kevin Moriarty, Gregory Banever, Stanley Konefal, Jr., and David Tashjian, at
Baystate Pediatric Surgery, 100 Wason Avenue, Springfield. He earned his medical degree at UMDNJ
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and completed his residency in surgery and a research fellowship
at Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Tirabassi then completed a
fellowship in pediatric endosurgery at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, followed by
a fellowship in pediatric surgery at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland. He is currently
welcoming new patients. For more information or an appointment, call 413-794-2442.
Baystate
Regional
Cancer
Program
Expands
in Ware
The Baystate Regional Cancer Program at
Baystate Mary Lane Hospital has expanded its
outpatient and infusion services. Now located
in the former maternity unit on the hospital’s
fourth floor, the unit offers additional space,
new equipment, more natural light, and
beautiful country views.
“Patient, staff, and physician input was considered
in every aspect of developing the new
area, from the physical design to patient flow
and the overall ambiance,” says Lisa Beaudry,
RN, CNM, director of Patient Care Services.
Lori Tuttle, RN, program manager, adds, “The
new infusion suite is much more spacious.
Many of our patients prefer to be together
during their treatments, and the larger open
area provides the opportunity for our patients
to connect socially while receiving treatment.
There is also a private infusion area for patients
who prefer that.”
For more information about the
Baystate Regional Cancer Program,
visit baystatehealth.org/brcp
Baystate Medical Center Named
Leapfrog “Top Hospital”
Baystate Medical Center’s delivery of quality, safe, and efficient care has
placed the Springfield teaching hospital for the fourth consecutive year among an elite group of 60 urban hospitals in the
United States named “Top Hospitals” in The Leapfrog Group’s 2012 survey of over 1,200 hospitals.
Leapfrog’s “Top Hospital” designation is the most competitive national hospital quality award in the country. It recognizes
hospitals that deliver the highest quality care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures such
as heart bypass surgery, and reducing hospital readmissions for patients being treated for conditions like pneumonia and
heart attacks.
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 4

A “Game Changer”
for Patients with Aortic Stenosis
By Deb Whittemore
Baystate Medical Center is the
only hospital outside of Boston
in Massachusetts to offer the
TAVR procedure.
Some of the members of the TAVR Team at the Davis Family Heart & Vascular Center. Top row
left to right: Drs. Leng Jiang; Colin Shafer; Dan Engelman; Christopher Moore; Gregory Valania;
amd Anatha Kashikar. Seated left to right: Drs. Joseph Flack, Ashequl Islam; and John Joelson.
John Golob had already fought cancer and adapted to life on kidney dialysis. At his annual physical last
year, the 85-year-old from West Warren faced another challenge when he was diagnosed with aortic
stenosis. “I learned my heart was getting weak,” Golob says. “The doctor said I should have my valve
replaced within a year or it would be too late.”
Aortic stenosis affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans and is the most commonly diagnosed heart valve condition.
When blood leaves the heart, it flows through the aortic valve into the aorta, the main artery carrying blood
out of the heart. In patients with aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not open fully, which decreases blood flow
from the heart and can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, and in some cases, sudden death.
The traditional treatment is an open aortic valve repair, open heart surgery that involves the patient being on a
heart-lung machine. About one-third of those diagnosed with aortic stenosis, including Golob, are deemed inoperable
or too high risk for the procedure due to other health conditions. Thankfully, they now have another option:
Baystate Medical Center is offering a new, less invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement
(TAVR), what the American Heart Association calls a “game changer.”
A Less Invasive Approach
Somewhat similar to an angioplasty, with TAVR a patient under general anesthesia has a catheter inserted into a
blood vessel in the groin. A replacement valve is placed on a stent, advanced through the blood vessel and into the
5 Baystate Health Winter 2013

heart. Once it reaches the aortic valve, a balloon is inflated that pushes the faulty valve
against the aortic wall and makes room for a new valve.
“It’s not a true replacement valve,” says Dr. Ashequl Islam, the interventional cardiologist who
heads the Baystate Heart & Vascular Program’s TAVR team, “but an implanted valve inserted
into the old valve.”
TAVR has many benefits for patients, including a quicker recovery and better outcomes compared
to those inoperable patients who receive medical therapy alone. Baystate’s TAVR team
has completed nine TAVR procedures in otherwise inoperable patients so far, all with
outstanding results.
“We’re taking a very high risk group of patients and making them ‘operable’ by using a
technique with less risk,” says Dr. Joseph Flack, a cardiac surgeon who performs the procedure
as part of the Baystate Heart & Vascular Program.
Golob’s physician referred him to Flack, who advised that TAVR would be the ideal option for
him. Since Baystate Medical Center is the only hospital in western and central Massachusetts
to offer TAVR, Golob was willing to travel from his central Massachusetts home to have the
procedure performed.
“I was very satisfied with the procedure,” he says. “Naturally, I had a little pain at the
beginning, but I healed quickly and was able to resume normal activities.”
“We are very optimistic about how things are going. We’re well ahead of many centers starting
TAVR programs, and we’re very pleased with the outcomes of our patients,” Islam says.
“We’re well ahead
of many centers
starting TAVR programs,
and we’re
very pleased with
the outcomes of
our patients,”
Islam says.
These days John Golob is feeling well enough to take
trips shopping with his wife and go out for occasional
Chinese food. “I can’t say enough about the
care I received at Baystate,” he says. “They were very
knowledgeable and provided a great service. I came
out of this wonderfully.”
To learn more about TAVR, attend our free
Health & Vascular Health Lecture Series (see
sidebar).
For more information about the Baystate Heart
& Vascular Program, visit baystatehealth.org/bhvp
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 6

Baystate One of the
Nation’s Best
Baystate Medical Center has been named one of
the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by
Truven Health Analytics.
The study examined the performance of more than
1,000 hospitals by analyzing outcomes for patients
with heart failure and heart attacks and for those
who received coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous
coronary interventions such as angioplasties.
“This year’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals have
proven that a commitment to deliver excellent care
is still attainable in times of economic uncertainty,”
said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance
improvement and the 100 Top Hospitals
program at Truven Health Analytics.
“The hospitals in this study have achieved higher
levels of care and efficiency than their peers,
demonstrating incredibly strong focus by cardiologists,
cardiovascular surgeons, and cardiovascular
service administrators and staff on basic care
and outcomes.”
®
Join
Us!
Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series 2013
Join experts from the Baystate Heart & Vascular Program for this popular annual
event to learn the latest about treatments and technology to improve your heart and
vascular health. Heart healthy refreshments are served and handouts provided.
Baystate Health Education Center, 361 Whitney Avenue, Holyoke
This event is free, but registration is required: 1-800-377-4325.
Sunday, February 3, 1-3:30 pm
Preventive Cardiology
Dr. Timothy Egan, MD, cardiologist
Sunday, February 10, 1-3:30 pm
Atrial Fibrillation, Anticoagulation,
and Surgical Treatment
Dr. John Rousou, chief, Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Mathias Stoenescu, cardiac electrophysiologist
Sunday, February 17, 1-3:30 pm
Vascular Disease
Dr. Marc Norris, vascular surgeon
Sunday, February 24, 1-3:30 pm
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Dr. Ashequl Islam, interventional cardiologist,
Dr. Daniel Engelman, cardiothoracic surgeon
7 Baystate Health Winter 2013

Preventing
Cancer
Before
It Starts
By Deb Whittemore
Tony Angeletti carried the images in his
head for years. He remembered his dad,
a strong, burly man who had worked in
construction his entire life, dying of lung
cancer, a mere shadow of his former self.
Angeletti’s father had lived with symptoms
of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
for much of his life, and the family often
wondered if his cancer had originated in his
esophagus. So when Angeletti, a Westfield
resident, saw his local gastroenterologist for
ongoing indigestion and pain last summer,
the doctor thought Angeletti’s family history,
as well as indications from blood work,
warranted follow-up.
A few weeks later, a biopsy revealed that
Angeletti had very early stage esophageal
cancer and he was referred to Baystate for
further evaluation and treatment. “I was
scared and I was worried, but Dr. Jacqueline
Lee and Dr. Vaibhav Mehendiratta made me
feel real relaxed and helped to relieve my
anxiety,” he says.
About 44% of adults in the U.S. experience
symptoms of GERD. Over time, if left
untreated, the back flow of acid and bile
into the esophagus can lead to chronic
inflammation of the esophageal lining. A
prolonged exposure to gastric contents can
sometimes cause normal esophageal cells to
change into normal intestinal cells. These
normal intestinal cells, now in an abnormal
location, are known as Barrett’s esophagus.
When these normal intestinal cells become
abnormal, they do so in a stepwise fashion,
eventually becoming esophageal cancer.
Angeletti was not a candidate for surgery
due to certain risk factors, so Mehendiratta
and Lee performed an endoscopic mucosal
resection, an option available for treating
early stage esophageal cancer.
In October, Angeletti received the good
news that he was cancer-free. His next step
for treatment was to receive radiofrequency
ablation to prevent cancer from returning.
Radiofrequency Ablation
During radiofrequency ablation therapy,
radiofrequency energy (less than one second)
is used to heat and remove targeted tissue.
The outpatient procedure takes less than
half an hour, requires no incisions, and
uses conscious sedation. Risks are minimal
and most patients tolerate the procedure
well, experiencing mild pain and difficulty
swallowing for about a week, and minimal
bleeding.
Only a small percentage of patients with
Barrett’s esophagus develop esophageal
cancer, so ablation is not indicated for every
patient with Barrett’s. People who have a
long history of GERD should talk to their
doctor. If diagnosed with Barrett’s, their
gastroenterologist can monitor their condition
to see if the ablation therapy is necessary.
“The process needs to be found early
in order for ablation therapy to even be
possible,” says Dr. Gary Hochheiser, chief
of Thoracic Surgery, “which is not always
Baystate Medical Center is
the only facility in western
Massachusetts offering
ablation therapy.
possible because Barrett’s itself and early
stage cancer do not cause symptoms. This
limits the procedure to a very select group
of patients, but for those, it may be the
difference between a big operation and
multiple endoscopies.”
“For me, this is a miracle,” says Angeletti.
“Usually by the time they catch this cancer,
it’s too late,” he says. “I have a 20-year-old
son who has autism. I was scared that I
wasn’t going to be around for him. Now a
lot of that anxiety is fading away.”
To schedule an appointment with a
specialist at Baystate Gastroenterology,
3300 Main Street, Springfield, call
413-794-7364.
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 8

Baystate
Medical Center
Emergency &
Trauma Center
Opens!
Baystate Medical Center’s new
Emergency & Trauma Center
opened in December. Learn more
and take an online photo tour at
baystatehealth.org/bmcemergency
Ann Marie Higgins, RN, greets guests behind the pediatric Triage Desk.
The rooftop helipad provides for
immediate transfer of patients.
A dedicated Radiology suite includes two digital X-Ray rooms
(pictured), two CT scanners, two ultrasound rooms, and one
reading room.
Three state-of-the-art trauma rooms are located near the ambulance
entrance, equipped for any life-threatening situation.
Sadowsky Family Pediatric Emergency Department at Baystate Children’s Hospital
There are three Adult Acute
Care areas, with a total of 65
private patient rooms.
In adult triage, patients are assessed,
prioritized, and triaged
to the appropriate medical,
surgical, or critical care area.
The Sadowsky Family Pediatric ED is a remarkable unit featuring
vivid colors, organic shapes, and animated characters collectively
known as the Wellies.
9 Baystate Health Winter 2013
In the waiting area, Color Kinetics LED lighting illuminates
a ceiling ‘cloud.’

Emergency Care
without Delay
at baystate Mary
Lane Hospital
Emergency medicine is all about providing highly skilled,
essential care without undue delays. Nevertheless,
according to a report from the Government Accountability
Office, emergency department wait times continue to
increase both in our area and throughout the country.
Research from Press Ganey Associates, a group that works with
health care organizations to improve clinical outcomes, found
that in 2009, patients admitted to hospitals waited an average
of six hours in emergency rooms. Even worse, nearly 400,000
patients waited 24 hours or more. When essential care is
delayed, even in the best institutions, outcomes worsen.
“Baystate Mary Lane Hospital is committed to turning around
this trend and to providing rapid response times to patients
needing emergency care,” says Dr. Richard Gerstein, chief of
Emergency Medicine at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. “The
30-minute pledge reflects our ER’s ongoing goal to deliver
excellent care as efficiently as we can, each and every time
you need it.”
satisfaction with their overall quality of care. These results were
benchmarked against more than 500 other hospitals and service
areas in the PRC national database.
“Actual ER wait times may vary depending on the urgency of
care required by specific patients in the department,” says Dr.
Gerstein. “While our ER pledge is to see every patient within 30
minutes, the most critical health emergencies will always receive
top priority.”
Now, you can even check the anticipated wait times at Baystate
Mary Lane Hospital’s Emergency Department before you get
there, either by visiting baystatehealth.org or by using a free app
called iTriage, a smartphone-based application for Android and
Apple products. Look for iTriage in Google Play and the iTunes
app stores.
For more information about Baystate Mary Lane Hospital,
visit baystatehealth.org/bmlh or follow us on Facebook.
Lynn Garreffi, RN, nurse manager of the Emergency
Department, notes that the 30-minute pledge is the result of
teamwork across all departments within the hospital. “Through
a collaborative process involving every department, we have
adopted principles and techniques to reduce wait times, provide
faster turn-around times for lab work and diagnostic testing,
and enhance the movement of patients through the various
phases of their hospital care,” she says.
Along with Baystate Mary Lane’s efforts to improve efficiency,
delivering the highest quality care remains the hospital’s number
one goal. Its Emergency Department received the 4-star award
from Professional Research Consultants (PRC), recognized for
being in the top 25% of hospitals across the country for patients’
Left to right: Dr. Richard Gerstein, chair of Emergency Medicine at
BMLH; Dr. Richard Romano; Mary Gravel, RN; Marylynn Cordy-Pratt,
RN; Dr. Morris Leibowitz; and Dr. Jeffrey Gutterman – members of
the Emergency Medicine Team at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital.
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 10

Special Series:
Mid-level Providers
According to the American Association of
Medical Colleges, the United States will be
short some 45,000 primary care physicians by
2020. This shortage is made even more dire
when you factor in an aging population with
a host of chronic conditions. One solution
Nurse practitioners.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are Advanced Practice
Nurses who provide care to patients throughout their
lifespan, from premature newborns to the elderly.
Here, we debunk a few of the misperceptions about
NPs, and explain why your next doctor’s appointment
may be with a nurse.
The Nurse-
Practitioner
Will See You Now
By Sue Spiry
Misperception:
Nurse practitioners don’t receive
advanced training.
Reality: Nurse practitioners are registered nurses
who have undergone another two to three years of
rigorous training and clinical experience to earn a
minimum of a master’s degree. A proposal endorsed
by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
for 2015 would require that nurse practitioners also
have a doctorate of nursing practice, an additional
two or three more years of study. To become licensed/
certified to practice, NPs must pass a rigorous
national board certification exam in an area of
specialty (such as family, women’s health, pediatrics,
adult, acute care, etc.), and complete ongoing
recertification.
Misperception:
Nurse practitioners can only provide
basic care.
Reality: NPs can prescribe medications, including
controlled substances, in all 50 states. In 25 states,
NPs have authority to practice independently. In
Massachusetts, their scope of practice must be
overseen by a physician, but within that scope they
can diagnose and prescribe independently. They:
• perform comprehensive and focused physical
examinations;
• diagnose and treat common acute illnesses,
infections, and injuries;
• provide immunizations;
11 Baystate Health Winter 2013

“We provide a different approach to
primary care that has been shown to be
high in patient satisfaction, effective, and
safe,” says Connie Lee Turner, NP , from
Baystate Medical Practices - Greenfield
Family Medicine, at 48 Sanderson Street
in Greenfield.
• manage high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and other chronic
health problems;
• order and interpret diagnostic tests such as X-Rays and EKGs,
and laboratory tests;
• prescribe medications and therapies; perform procedures; and
• educate and counsel patients and their families regarding
healthy lifestyles and health care options.
Misperception:
You’re better off seeing a doctor if you can.
Reality: According to a recent New York Times article*, data shows
that nurse practitioners provide good health care. They say a review of
118 published studies over 18 years comparing health outcomes and
patient satisfaction at doctor-led and nurse practitioner-led clinics found
the two groups to be equivalent on most outcomes. The nurses did
better at controlling blood glucose and lipid levels, and on many aspects
of birthing. There were no measures on which the nurses did worse.
Misperception:
Nurse practitioners only care for patients in rural,
under-served communities.
Reality: There are about 150,000 nurse practitioners in America
today. About 100 NPs are employed throughout Baystate Health, and
many more in community practices, in both inpatient and outpatient
settings as varied as adult and pediatric primary care, emergency
departments, obstetrics, psychiatry, cardiology, surgery, and more.
“We are not in competition with doctors,” says Connie Lee Turner, NP,
BMP-Greenfield Family Medicine. “As nurses, we come to patient care
with a different approach to the patient, family, and community as a
whole. We provide a different approach to primary care that has been
shown to be high in patient satisfaction, effective, and safe.”
Nurse
Practitioners
are Advanced Practice
Nurses who provide
care to patients
throughout their
lifespan, from
premature newborns
to the elderly.
*New York Times, “The Nurse as Family Doctor,” October 24, 2012
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 12

Meet the Expert
Meet Cardiologist
Dr. Timothy Egan
By Jill Messier
Why did you choose to be
a doctor and specialize
in cardiology
Growing up, I had several great role models
who worked in the medical field. They
helped to show me both the intellectual
challenge and emotional reward that a
lifetime in medicine would provide.
I chose to specialize in cardiology for many
different reasons. I am interested in our
cardiovascular systems and diseases that
affect it. Furthermore, within cardiology we
take care of a broad spectrum of patients:
from addressing preventative measures in the
office to caring for critically ill patients in the
Intensive Care Unit.
What is your patient
care philosophy
My philosophy is to treat the patient, and
not just the disease. We understand a lot
about cardiovascular disease processes and
treatments. However, this does not mean we
should take a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Our job as physicians involves both
understanding the underlying disease as
well as our patients’ needs.
I am recently married and my wife, Angela,
and I live in Northampton. We have had a
busy year – during September we married,
moved, and I started the new job! Now that
we are settled, we enjoy exploring our new
neighborhood.
How do you define success for
you and your patients
My measure of success is different for each
patient. Generally though, I strive to provide
each patient with not only the best treatment
that we have to offer, but an understanding of
their particular disease and treatment plan.
As part of the Baystate Heart & Vascular
Program, Dr. Egan is currently accepting
new patients at Baystate Cardiology
in Springfield and Greenfield. For
more information or to schedule an
appointment, please call 413-794-7246
in Springfield, and 855-414-0240
(toll-free) in Greenfield.
What drew you to this area
I grew up in Western Massachusetts, and
graduated from Longmeadow High School.
While I spent time in many other places
for school, training, and practice, I always
felt like this was my home. I was happy to
have the opportunity to return and serve
this community.
13 Baystate Health Winter 2013

Health Happenings
Mini-Medical School at
Baystate Medical Center
Now enrolling for the Spring 2013
semester! Mini-Medical School helps
members of the public make more
informed decisions about all aspects
of their health care while receiving
insight on what it is like to be a
medical student.
This eight part health education series
features a different aspect of medicine
each week. The Spring semester will
include cardiac surgery, pathology,
pediatrics, surgery, anesthesiology,
emergency medicine, several exciting
tours, and more.
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.
Classes are held on eight consecutive
Thursday evenings beginning March
21- May 9 from 6-8 pm or 6-9 pm depending
on each evening’s topics and
tours. Tuition is $95 per person, $80
for Senior Class and Spirit of Women
members. Each student will receive
a certificate of completion. To enroll,
call 1-800-377-4325 or visit
baystatehealth.org/minimed
IHOP National Pancake Day
to benefit Baystate
Children’s Hospital
Tuesday, February 5 (All Day)
Visit the Springfield or West Springfield
International House of Pancakes and enjoy
a free short stack of pancakes with any
donation to Baystate Children’s Hospital
and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Some Nerve:
Peripheral Neuropathy
Featuring Dr. Anant Shenoy,
Baystate Neurology
Tuesday, February 26, 6-7:30 pm
Baystate Health Education Center
361 Whitney Avenue, Holyoke
To register: 1-800-377-4325. FREE!
12 Annual 94.7 WMAS
Radiothon for Baystate
Children’s Hospital
Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8,
6 am-7 pm; Saturday, March 9, 8 am-4 pm
Tune in for a live broadcast on 94.7 WMAS
from the Baystate Children’s Hospital
Playdeck. Register today to become a Change
Hero and start fundraising for the kids! Free
registration online at baystatehealth.org/cmn
Senior Class
Spring Fling Luncheon
Wednesday, April 17, 12-4 pm
Chez Jozef, 176 Shoemaker Lane,
Agawam, $29 per person
This popular annual event featuring the
music of Richie Mitnick for your listening
and dancing pleasure is open to Senior Class
members. Senior Class is Baystate Health’s
loyalty membership program for people
ages 55+. To join this free program,
or to register for the Spring Fling
Luncheon, call 413-794-7630 or go
to baystatehealth.org/seniorclass
rd
3 Annual WSPR & WACM
Spanish Radiothon for
Baystate Children’s Hospital
April 18 & 19, 7 am-7 pm
Tune in for a live broadcast live from WSPR
and WACM with remotes throughout the
community. Visit baystatehealth.org/cmn
for more information.
22 nd Annual Baystate Children’s
Hospital Golf Tournament
Monday, May 30
Crestview Country Club
and The Ranch Golf Club
Enjoy a great day of golf, as well as a chance
to win a Lexus lease courtesy of Balise Lexus
or $10,000, on-course hospitality and post
tournament celebration catered by Lattitude,
live and silent auction. For more information,
including sponsorship opportunities,
contact cmn@baystatehealth.org or call
413-794-1486.
Free! Heart Failure
Support Group
First Wednesday of every month, 5:30-6:30 pm
Davis Family Heart & Vascular Center
Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut Street, Springfield
Open to the public. For info: Jodi Kashouh
RN, BSN, 413-794-3248 or Jodi.Kashouh@
baystatehealth.org
Health Screenings
Free! Blood Pressure Screening
Every Thursday, 9 am-12:30 pm
Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High Street, Greenfield
No registration required
Cholesterol Screening Program
First and second Wednesday of every month,
7:30-9:55 am
Cardiac Rehabilitation & Wellness
3300 Main Street, Springfield
Registration required: 413-794-2255. Fee $10
Free! Hearing Screenings
Baystate Rehabilitation Care
360 Birnie Avenue, Springfield
Appointments: 413-794-2222
Baystate Rehabilitation Care
48 Sanderson Street, Greenfield
Appointments: 413-773-2227
Child Car Seat Clinic
3rd Tuesday of each month, 10 am-2 pm
Greenfield Fire Department
412 Main Street, Greenfield
Appointment required: 413-794-2255
Parent Education
Baystate Health offers the region’s most
comprehensive selection of childbirth and
parent education classes. For a complete list,
visit baystatehealth.org/parented. For more
information, specific dates and locations, or
to register, call 1-800-377-4325.
Winter 2013 Baystate Health 14

Ashequl Islam, MD (left)
Interventional Cardiologist
Joseph Flack, MD (right)
Cardiac Surgeon
It’s a new day for patients with aortic stenosis, the most commonly diagnosed heart valve
condition. Since it was approved by the FDA, our experienced team of specialists has been
offering the latest treatment option – transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – with
outstanding results. The American Heart Association calls this procedure a “game changer,”
and it’s not offered anywhere else in western or central Massachusetts except by the
experts at the Davis Family Heart & Vascular Center in Springfield.
Ask your doctor for a referral to a Baystate cardiovascular specialist.
baystatehealth.org/bhvp
Offering tomorrow’s breakthroughs today.
CS125154