What You Need To Know
We realized that there is a need for people to know their way around the neighborhood as well as Baystate Medical Center.
All of us agreed that a large part of the stress people feel, either as a patient or a family member, is created by not knowing their way around. We have tried to give you some hints to make your visit easier. Please share your hints with us.
Need Directions to Baystate?
A
special telephone line has been established to help patients and visitors get
directions to Baystate Medical Center and its area buildings such as 3300, 3350
and 3400 Main St. and 280 Chestnut St. in Springfield. You can reach the new
directions line by dialing 1-413-794-1555. Prompts will easily walk you
through the menu of options, which include directions from the north, east,
south and west, as well as detailed parking instructions. You can also find
directions to all Baystate Health systems locations - including Mary Lane
Hospital, Franklin Medical Center and medical practices throughout the region -
on Baystate's web site at
www.baystatehealth.com when you click on "Get Directions" under
"Navigational Shortcuts".
This map may help:
Parking
Parking is limited at the main hospital. We recommend using the Valet Service. It is free and they are very helpful. If you arrive very early in the morning, there is parking in the lots near the Centennial Entrance. If it’s a weekend the gate in the garage is up which means you can park there.
Centennial Entrance
The Centennial entrance is on the 3rd floor of the building, even thought you
just entered from ground level. The Valet Service is located under the portal
as you drive in.
You will enter the front door and notice many wheelchairs. Feel free to
use one if you have trouble walking long distances or don't feel well.
The next thing you will notice most hours is the Concierge, the person
is standing there to greet you. They will know where to direct you.
Next on the left as you walk in you will notice a waiting area with lots
and chairs and to the left a desk. The person at that desk will be able to tell
you where patients are located as well as other things.
The Centennial entrance is the entrance you will use AFTER visiting
hours. Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. you MUST sign in and get a
pass at the lobby desk.
As you go down the corridor you will notice a Friendly's on your right as
well as the gift shop. The elevators are located past the gift shop . Keep in
mind, if you have difficulty walking, use a wheel chair. Many departments in
the hospital are a hike even for the most able bodies!
Springfield-3 The Lynn Katz Oncology Unit
The Lynn Katz Oncology Unit (or Springfield-3) is on the same floor as the Centennial Entrance. It can be a long walk. (See wheelchairs below).
It is a 23 bed medical oncology unit for adults with all forms of cancer. Two rooms are specially equipped for patients who have received, or are on their way to bone marrow transplantation.
The regionally recognized staff, the nurses, the T.A.’s and the secretaries are the greatest in the world!!
BAYSTATE NURSES SALUTED
Earlier this year, the nurses at the Lynn Katz
Oncology Unit (the Baystate Regional Cancer
Program’s inpatient unit) at Baystate Medical
Center were honored by the Boston Globe
With it’s third annual salute to nurses award.
It was the first time an entire nursing staff had
Been nominated for the award, which was
Presented in Boston. A patient’s mother
Nominated the unit’s staff because of it’s
Outstanding competence and compassion.
The nurses were among three honorees
Selected from more than 150 nominations.
Wheelchairs
We have watched patients, as well as the elderly and frail visitors, hike some of the long distances to the floors. Wheelchairs are provided inside the front door and on many floors at the nurses station. They also can be helpful for moving patients belongings to and from the rooms.
Food
The hospital cafeteria is located on the 2nd floor. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and are open from 6:00 A.M. ‘til 7:00 P.M. 7 days a week. As mentioned Friendlys is located inside the Centennial entrance and is open 23 hours per day with the full Friendlys menu. They open at noon on weekends and holidays.
Gift Shop
The gift shop is open from 8:30 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. It has a wonderful selection of just about everything.
ATM Machine
The ATM is located on the 2nd floor, at the junction of the Centennial building and the Springfield/Old Main buildings – down from the cafeteria. ASK!
Emergency Department
The
Emergency Department entrance is located just past the Main Entrance. Parking
in this area is VERY tight. There are a few designated
places in the lot and in front of the ED entrance. Sometimes the only thing you can do is drop your patient off and go look for a place to park.
Again, the ED is on the 3rd floor of the hospital even though you have
just walked in from the street.
As you walk in the doors you will see to your
left a window where the triage nurses sit. You will go to their window and tell them your "complaint".
You may be asked to take a seat or come right in depending on your situation.
The most serious cases are seen first.
If your immune system is compromised or you are a transplant patient
mention this to the nurse. It is also helpful if you have a list of your medications.
After you are triaged you will be asked to take a seat and wait to be
registered. It is good to have your insurance cards available.
The Emergency Department at BMC has about 55 beds
as well as well as the stretchers that get put in the hallways. This can
make for a VERY busy department. The hospital is a Level One Trauma Center
and this means that even if the department is full the hospital still receives
these patients.
If you have a chronic or serious illness and see your physician on a
regular basis it might be a very good idea to call your doctor before you make
a trip to the ED. Here's why. The ED staff has to start from scratch with your
case. They have to reach you doctor sooner or later. If you should need
admission there might be the possibility of what is called a "Direct Admission"
which means your doctor arranges it and you go directly to the floor.
Most people cannot believe that the hospital is full sometimes. They see a
big building and cannot imagine there is not a place for them. It happens.
There are times that patients are held in the ED or sent home to wait for a bed.
Working with your doctor can avoid this at times.
We suggest if you are making a trip to the ED you bring a snack, a sweater
and blanket (the building gets chilly) a book... and change for the phone.
There are Patient Advocates on duty to help you.
Cell phones are not allowed.
The Emergency Department is VERY busy most of the time. The waiting rooms
tend to be full. The wait can be long. However, we cannot say enough good
things about the care you will get-especially if you are a "real" emergency. You
should never hesitate if you think you need to be there.
The department is open 24/7.
In the Neighborhood
The Lewis and Clark Pharmacy is located in the Medical Office Building – just past the E.R. entrance – at 2 Medical Center Drive. They have the usual things – open M-F.
There is a 7/11 store on Springfield St. (take a right out of the parking lot – it will be on your right – about a half mile) We did go there to get a few things the gift shop did not carry.
If you would like to eat at some area restaurants - please click the link below for some we found to be relaxing:
A Pleasant Diversion
Located in the Centennial lobby, right outside of Friendly’s, is a perpetual motion machine called “Kinetic Prescription”. It is placed there in memory of Arnold Blake, MD.., a beloved pediatrician.
Places to Stay
If your patient is very ill, you may be able to sit in the room or camp out in the waiting room. Some folks are eligible to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. You can ask your social worker if you are eligible.
We had a family that came in from the west coast who wanted to be close by. We chose the Holiday Inn at 711 Dwight St. Springfield. It’s about 7-8 blocks from the hospital. Tel. 1-413-181-0900. There is a hospital rate that gives you a bit of a discount.
There are places on Riverdale St. in West Springfield that are cheaper but not as close. Please let us know a place that is good, safe and reasonable.
The Comfort Inn and Suites at 106 Capital Drive W. Springfield, Ma (413) 736-5000 comes highly recommended from several families who have used this hotel when their family member was hospitalized here. They felt the price was reasonable, especially if there were many people needing the suite rooms. The desk clerks have gone out of their way to be accommodating to those with relatives hospitalized.
Other Worthwhile Things
We have written this as hints we would give a friend. We hope you will not take it as the best advice or the only way to do things. We welcome anything you can add to make the stay more reasonable for patient, family and friends.
Be a Donor!!
I don’t know why we didn’t think of this, we had lots of people stop in and ask us what they could do? Being of the soldiering on type we couldn’t think of or ask for anything.
Amy used many pints of blood and platelets …. You can go yourself or ask people to donate at the hospital blood bank. It is located on the first floor – this would be a real help for so many patients – especially with the current shortage.