RiverBend To Provide Workers’ Compensation Care For Springfield Employees

SPRINGFIELD — RiverBend Medical Group, the largest private, multi-specialty medical group in Western Mass., recently announced an agreement with the city of Springfield to become its designated triage and medical treatment provider for those employees who sustain work-related injuries or illnesses.
The agreement will cover nearly 7,000 city employees.

The agreement is the result of a competitive bidding process recently carried out by the city. It will be in effect for one year from July 2003 and will be renewable at the city’s discretion for two additional one-year periods.

Injured employees will be able to receive medical care, including diagnostic services, at any of the RiverBend Medical Group offices located in Springfield, Chicopee, Agawam, and Westfield. Arrangements are also in place to provide access to care during evenings, weekends, and holidays, including an after-hours telephone triage service staffed by nurses.

“RiverBend Medical Group is pleased to have been selected by the city of Springfield as its provider of choice for the treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses,” said Robert L. Lounsbury, M.D., RiverBend’s president. “The multi-specialty nature of our group and our multiple locations in and around Springfield will allow these patients to obtain comprehensive and coordinated care for their problems in a timely and efficient manner. We believe that our ability to offer this type of consolidated medical care will also help reduce workers’ compensation costs for the city.”

City employees who have experienced a work-related injury or illness should contact RiverBend Medical Group at (413) 796-6810 to schedule an appointment to evaluate their problem.

RiverBend Medical Group is a multi-specialty group practice with more than 60 physicians and 25 other clinicians. In addition to internists and pediatricians, it has specialists in Obstetrics/Gynecology, Cardiology, Radiology, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Pulmonology, Dermatology, Behavioral Health, Oncology, Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, and Massage Therapy.