Berkshire Health Systems Stepping in to Provide Services

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Medical Center took several steps on Thursday to ensure continuity of some health care services for Northern Berkshire residents and medical providers.

The health-care system is working with Northern Berkshire Healthcare physician practices to provide certain administrative services that would allow them to remain operating in North County.

This plan would call for Northern Berkshire OB/GYN, which is located on the second floor in North Adams Regional Hospital, and Northern Berkshire Family Medicine, which occupies a building owned by NBH on State Road, to relocate to new offices in the area.

Berkshire Medical Center will set up a laboratory drawing station at Ambulatory Care Center on the North Adams Regional Hospital campus.


At the request of the state attorney general's office, Berkshire Health Systems is working with the attorney general and the New England Health Information agency to arrange for management of electronic medical records housed at North Adams Regional Hospital.

In addition, Berkshire Medical Center has established a 24/7 "CareLine" for Northern Berkshire patients and health care providers to answer questions about scheduling and/or access to health-care services. Callers may use the toll-free number, 855-262-5465, day or night.

"Northern Berkshire patients, families and practitioners are already calling and asking, 'What should I do?' and we want to respond as quickly and clearly as we can," said Diane Kelly, chief operating officer at BMC.


Tags: BHS,   doctors practice,   NARH,   NBH,   

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Berkshire Community College Graduates Historically Large Class

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Class valedictorian Jeremiah Reagan says he found himself at BCC in in nursing, earning his associate's degree from the program. See more photos here. 
LENOX, Mass. — The largest Berkshire Community College class in more than 10 years crossed Tanglewood's stage on Friday night.
 
It was also President Ellen Kennedy's last BCC commencement in the position, as she will step down at the end of June.
 
"It has been the greatest gift of my professional life to have been on this journey with you, all of you," Kennedy said. 
 
"Though our paths will now diverge, I know that the memories, the relationships, the moments of conflict and pain that led to new possibilities and growth, those will stay with me always." 
 
The 341 graduates in 38 programs of study earned a total of 377 awards: 218 associate degrees, and 159 certificates. This is the highest number of graduates the college has had since 2014, when it conferred awards to 362 students.
 
Graduates ranged in age from 17 to 68, and while a majority live in Massachusetts, others are from Connecticut, Kentucky, New York, Vermont, and West Virginia.
 
Travis Murach, who earned an associates degree in liberal arts, took the mic as he crossed the stage to receive his diploma to say he had been at BCC for a total of 15 years, dropped out three times, and has finally done it. 
 
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