BMC Confirms Hirings, Medical Practice Relocations

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center has provided an update on efforts to date in restoring emergency and medical services previously provided by the now defunct Northern Berkshire Healthcare.

Employment

As of today, Berkshire Medical Center has hired 143 former employees of North Adams Regional Hospital and NBH. This includes the physicians and other clinical support staff for the former NBH physician practices, VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire staff, physicians, nurses and staff for the planned Satellite Emergency Facility and other support services. Of these, 96 are permanent positions and 47 are temporary 90-day positions. Some of the temporary positions, depending on the ongoing needs of providing services and care in North Berkshire, may become permanent or extended beyond 90 days. Additionally, BMC has hired four former NARH/NBH employees to fill current open positions at the Medical Center.

Physician Practices

• Northern Berkshire OB/GYN will continue practicing in its existing location inside North Adams Regional Hospital the remainder of this week, and effective Monday, April 14, will reopen on the second floor of 2 Park St. next to the Adams Town Hall. Phone number remains the same.  
• Northern Berkshire Family Medicine will continue to practice in its existing location on State Road next to Harriman-West Airport. Phone number remains the same.
• Greylock Gastroenterology, Berkshire Hematology Oncology, Cardiology and Urology Services remain in practice in the Ambulatory Care Center on the grounds of North Adams Regional Hospital. The building is owned by a private entity not related to NARH and is unaffected by the NARH closure or bankruptcy.

Laboratory & Testing Services

Laboratory Blood Drawing Stations in North Berkshire have been set up in North Adams, Adams and Williamstown. They are located at:

• North Adams: Ambulatory Care Center, 77 Hospital Avenue, Berkshire Hematology Oncology office, open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; this station will be relocated to another suite, also in the Ambulatory Care Center, in the near future, but a date has not been finalized for that move
• Adams: 19 Depot St., second floor of the Adams Internists building, also open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays

VNA & Hospice Care

Home care and hospice services continue uninterrupted in Northern Berkshire, with former employees of VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire hired as BMC employees, as both full-time and per diem staff. The per diem staff members are maintaining their previous work commitment at their request.

VNA & Hospice will be opening an office on the first floor of 26 Union St., North Adams, in the near future.   
 

Ecu-Health Care

Ecu Healthcare also will be relocating in the near future to 26 Union St. in North Adams. Berkshire Health Systems is providing financial support to Ecu-Health Care to aid in facilitating the move. Ecu-Health Care is not affiliated with Berkshire Health Systems and continues as an independent agency assisting Northern Berkshire residents with access to health coverage.
 

Care Line
BMC continues to maintain a toll-free Care Line for North Berkshire residents who have questions about accessing services, transportation or general health-care questions. That number is 855-262-5465.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.