BMC Awarded $3M for Health Care Center in North Adams

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center will receive $3 million in state funding to create a "Patient Centered Medical Neighborhood" in North County.

That's on top of the $6 million that BMC is planning to invest in upgrades and expanded services announced on Tuesday.

The state award will help fund initiatives to align with the findings of the Stroudwater Associates' health needs report for North Berkshire.

Dr. Marc Pettus, BMC's director of medical education and population health, told WAMC Northeast Public Radio on Wednesday that the funds would be used to create a multi-care center at the former North Adams Regional Hospital in early part of 2015.

BMC was one of 28 community hospitals awarded $60 million in funding Wednesday by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. The awards were part of Phase 2 of the Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, and Transformation (CHART) Investment Program designed to address community and behavioral health needs.


The Stroudwater report recommends collaborating with social and community services and organizations; expanding primary care; and providing prenatal care and education and access to transportation to BMC's maternity department.

It also recommends expanding outpatient and imaging services, disease management and wellness services.

On Tuesday, BMC announced that it would invest $6 million in the former North Adams Regional Hospital campus to expand imaging and outpatient services, including some surgical procedures.  

The Pittsfield hospital has been operating a satellite emergency facility at what is now the BMC Northern Berkshire Campus. It purchased the bankrupt property in August for $4 million.


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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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