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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 11
Ronald Bryant, president and chief executive officer at Noble Hospital, presented a PowerPoint presentation at the Transforming the Heathcare System in Western Massachusetts symposium at Westfield State University last night. The symposium was sponsored by Noble Hospital and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Noble sponsors health symposium including health professionals and local employers. McCaffrey spoke about how the region is transforming its healthcare. “We’re really looking at taking care of a population of people’s health and wellness,” said McCaffrey. “Everything now is based on fees for service. We have started using a global budget and taking a team approach to care.” McCaffrey said this model – called Patient Centered Medical Home – brings together all the people involved in a person’s care and coming up with an upfront cost for the required services. In addition to reaping overall savings, this approach provides better care for the patient. McCaffrey used the example of a person needing a hip replacement.
Those involved in the care of that patient, from the surgeon to the skilled nursing facility needed for rehab, would get together with the patient to go over the care. Then, if a patient had questions after the meeting, they could go to a care manager who has been involved from the beginning. McCaffrey said all involved in the care of that patient would be working together. This, she said, would mean no more duplicate tests for bloodwork, etc., which would mean cost savings overall for insurance companies and patients. “We have already started this and patients say, for reasons they can’t put their finger on, that their experience is just better,” said McCaffrey. See Health Symposium, Page 3
Commission commends licensees By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The License Commission routinely conducts informational hearings to determine if a licensed establishment violated the state law or commission policies to ensure the good order and public safety. Last night the commission requested three licensees to discuss situations documented in Westfield Police Department reports involving intoxicated subjects and disturbances. What is unusual is that last night the commissioners commended the licensees for the action taken by management and staff to deal with those situations.
— Charles Lutwidge
Dodgson
75 cents
Huntington home invasion halted
Transforming the Heathcare System
By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A symposium on transforming the healthcare system in western Massachusetts last night featured a panel of local health experts. Presented by the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the event took place at Westfield State University and was sponsored by Noble Hospital. Speakers included Noble Hospital President and CEO Ronald Bryant, Massachusetts Hospital Association President Lynn Nicholas, Chief Operating Officer and incoming Chief Executive Oficer of Health New England Maura C. McCaffrey, and Jean Yang, the executive director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority. The event drew about 100 people,
“If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much.”
Bill Boisseau, the owner of the 7B’s pub on Southampton Road, appeared before the board to explain an incident in which a patron, asked to leave the establishment, pulled a fire alarm near the exit. That incident was recorded on a new security video system. Officers responding found an intoxicated subject sitting in a car waiting for someone to come to take him home. Officers transported the subject. A second subject was located sleeping in a vehicle at a nearby commercial garage. The Commission commended Boisseau for taking the initiative and making the investment to have the security system installed at his business.
Lori Lucia, the owner of Shenanigan’s at 150 Elm Street, appeared to discuss action taken following a disturbance in the Franklin Street municipal parking lot, located behind the bar. The police reported gathering of 30 to 40 young adults shortly after the bars closed. Lucia said that she hired additional staff, “doormen to ensure that patrons leave quietly.” The commission commended Lucia because “the action taken by you is what we would have recommended,” Chairman Christopher Mowatt said. Commissioner Edward Diaz said that See Commission, Page 3
Westfield State’s legal bills mount
Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle reacts to a question during a meeting with the Westfield State University Board of Trustees this summer. Dobelle was questioned on expenses incurred for trips, lodging, and meals related to the university. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD (AP) — Westfield State University’s legal battle against its own president is expected to cost at least $1.2 million. The university’s top financial officer told trustees yesterday that $500,000-plus in bills already received from the Boston law firm of Fish & Richardson will likely double, and could reach $1.5 million. Kimberly Tobin, interim vice president for administration and finance, recommended that trustees consider transferring $1.2 million from reserve accounts to pay legal bills. University spokeswoman Molly Watson said the money will not come from student programs or services. Former President Evan Dobelle resigned Nov. 8, ending a three-month legal battle with trustees and the state Higher Education Commissioner over what some considered extravagant spending on travel and other perks. Dobelle defended the spending, saying he was simply promoting the university.
By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Springfield man was held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail yesterday after a Saturday incident in Huntington which saw the State Police Special Tactical Operations team utilized on Searle Road. A spokesperson from the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Mary Carey, reported yesterday afternoon that a team of malefactors used a ruse to get a Searle Road resident out of his home where he could be set upon by crow bar wielding assailants and robbed in what she pointed out was not a random event. Carey reports that a female party knocked on the door of the victim Saturday morning and said she had a problem with her car. The resident apparently attempted to help the woman but, Carey reports, when he returned to his home with the woman, he was beset by two masked men who “struck the resident on the head and body with crow bars” while demanding money and marijuana, Carey reports. The resident was able to flee from his assailants and was assisted by a neighbor. He was transported to Baystate Medical Center by Westfield Fire Department ambulance where, Carey reports, he was treated for “a broken arm and multiple lacerations to his face and skull.” In Huntington, one suspect, later identified as Andrew J. Przybyla, 26, of 14 Lorraine St., Springfield, approached the neighbor while holding bags of contraband from the residence and brandishing a handgun but turned away and fled on foot while his two confederates fled in the car. Carey does not explain how Przybla was apprehended but a representative of the State Police Office of Media Relations said yesterday morning that the tactical team was called to duty. The website of the Special Tactical Operations (STOP) Team notes that the team “is prepared to respond at any time See Home Invasion, Page 5
Police Academy offers ‘inside look’ By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Westfield residents will have an opportunity to get “an inside look at law enforcement” when the Citizens Police Academy is offered in the city next month. Sgt. Eric Hall, commander of the community policing unit of the city’s police department, said that the 13th police academy will begin in the city on Feb. 4 and the 12-week course will conclude with a graduation ceremony April 22. “The goal of the Citizen Police Academy is to provide a greater awareness and understanding of law enforcement’s role in our community,” said Hall, and to help participants better understand the working of the city department. The academy students will learn from police executives and veteran officers who will cover topics including criminal law and the criminal justice system, patrol procedures, defensive tactics, use of force guidelines and code enforcement. The instruction will be on Tuesday evenings at the Washington Street police headquarters from 6-9 p.m. but a segment on firearm safety will require one Saturday class at the firing range. Other segments will cover subjects such as child abuse and domestic violence, drug identification, crime scene evaluation, financial crime and fraud. The academy program will also inform participants about special programs including the community policing effort and the school resource officer program. “We decided it’s time to do it again,” Hall said, since the course has not been offered in the city for six years. He said that he will coordinate the program but that guest instructors with specialized experience in the police department and the court will present most of the classes. In addition to the firearms segment at the firing range, Hall said that there is likely to be at least one field trip, probably to the new dispatch center located at Barnes Airport. He said that he hopes that the participants will graduate with “a better understanding of how the criminal justice See Police Academy, Page 5