Berkshire Health Systems Chooses Director of Occupational Health

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Dr. James McEleney
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems appointed James D. McEleney, a board certified occupational medicine physician with additional specialization in urgent care, as the medical director of Berkshire Occupational Health. Dr. McEleney has extensive experience in occupational medicine, and will join Richard Dodge in providing comprehensive occupational medicine services to businesses throughout the region.

Dr. McEleney comes to the Berkshires following 12 years as clinical director of occupational and travel Medicine and employee health at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston. He previously worked for Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital and the Cambridge Health Alliance as medical director of occupational health and employee health.

He is board certified in occupational medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and received his medical degree from St. Louis University Medical School. He completed his residency in occupational medicine at the former University Hospital in Boston, now Boston Medical Center, and has a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health.
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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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