Berkshire Health Systems Stepping in to Provide Services
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,
