BMC Opens Imaging Center at Former North Adams Hospital
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center has restored general diagnostic imaging services in Northern Berkshire in order to provide easier access for the community.
Effective Monday, July 7, the BMC Northern Berkshire Imaging Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., located where radiology services were provided at the former North Adams Regional Hospital.
The center provides X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; walk-in X-ray services are also available.
The imaging department at NARH were lost when Northern Berkshire Healthcare abruptly closed in March and declared bankruptcy. Since then, BMC has been able to restore a emergency services through an agreement with the the U.S. Bankruptcy Court-appointed trustee for NBH.
Imaging services were reinstated as part of BMC's Satellite Emergency Facility at the hospital, but outpatient services were not available since they required a separate license. BMC has been working with state and federal officials to obtain proper licensing for outpatient imaging services and to offer a more convenient location for North County patients who require them. BMC hopes to resume outpatient mammographies as well as soon federal licensing is completed.
The Pittsfield medical center has hired five radiologic technologists for the imaging center. Four are former North Adams Regional Hospital employees and the fifth is a BMC employee who resides in North Berkshire.
Patients can enter the imaging center through the Satellite Emergency Facility entry, where they will be directed to the center, which is in NARH's former Radiology Department. Physicians will schedule patient appointments through central scheduling at BMC and the location of North Berkshire will be an option.
Additional services at the former hospital will depend on the outcome of the public bidding process for the bankrupt facilities. BMC has tendered an offer of $4 million; the bidding ends on July 31. BMC has not indicated what more it plans to do with the NBH campus should it be the successful bidder.
Tags: BMC, imaging, NARH,
