Berkshire Health Systems Investing $6M in North County

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BHS is investing $6 million to expand services at BMC North.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems will invest $6 million in Northern Berkshire in the coming months.

The significant investment will mean the expansion of outpatient and imaging services, as well as upgrades to the technology at the BMC North campus.

The funds were approved in the capital budget by the Berkshire Health Systems Board of Trustees in October and includes infrastructure improvements, building renovations, expanded services and equipment purchases.  

"This is the next phase in Berkshire Health Systems' ongoing commitment to provide enhanced health-care services to the Northern Berkshire community," said David Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems, in a statement. "This represents a major commitment in providing expanded and sustainable care, close to home for Northern Berkshire residents."

Residents in North County have been closely watching for BHS' plans for the former North Adams Regional Hospital campus. The former Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy in March and abruptly closed the hospital, leaving a health-care vacuum in the region.

Berkshire Medical Center, part of BHS, purchased the campus and the Northern Berkshire Family Practice building for $4 million in August. It had already reopened the emergency room and some imaging services in cooperation with the state and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and took over operations of the visiting nurse association and the family practice.

The expanded services will include mammography, for which BMC had been awaiting federal approval to resume.



Also to be offered are outpatient endoscopy and outpatient orthopedic surgery, and expansion of outpatient imaging.

Berkshire Health Systems will also be upgrading the electronic health record system to match the system used by BMC, while continuing the archiving of patient medical records from the former NARH, which will allow permanent access to records for Northern Berkshire patients and their providers. State officials had requested that BHS retain and maintain those archived patient records.

Berkshire Health Systems is in the process of purchasing new technology for endoscopy and mammography services. In addition, technology that had been under lease by NARH, including a large-bore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-speed computed tomography (CT) scanner, will be purchased by BHS in a buy-out of the leases.

Infrastructure improvements will include renovations to the cardiology, urology and oncology physician offices and other clinical spaces, and general building repairs and enhancements.

The total investment is $6 million, with the service expansions to take place over the next several weeks, while renovations and other improvements will take place over several months.

NBH's closure directly affected 500 jobs in the area. Since then, BHS said it has hired 214 former NARH employees in Northern Berkshire and at the main campus of BMC in Pittsfield.


Tags: BMC,   bmc north,   hospital campus,   NARH,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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