Gastroenterologist Joins BMC Practice

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems announces the appointment of Dr. Jason Bratcher, a board-certified and fellowship-trained gastroenterologist, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the physician staff of Gastroenterology Professional Services of BMC.

Dr. Bratcher, who came to the Berkshires from a New York City practice, is accepting new patients in need of comprehensive gastroenterology care. He is partnered with Jeffrey St. John, MD, Rangan Murali, MD, and Richard Woller, PA, at Gastroenterology Professional Services of BMC.

Dr. Bratcher specializes in the use of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), an advanced, minimally invasive technology that allows for the examination of deeper tissue layers of the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. The upper GI tract consists of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; the lower GI tract includes the colon and rectum. EUS allows for the evaluation of tissue and organs that are not visible with traditional endoscopy, such as the liver, biliary tree and pancreas. During the EUS procedure, fine needle aspiration (FNA) can be performed to assist in the diagnosis and staging of various GI malignancies, including esophageal, stomach and pancreatic cancers. He also is trained in ERCP, a technique that allows for treatment of hepatobiliary disorders that can cause blockage of the biliary tree, liver and pancreas. EUS and ERCP are oftentimes used in conjunction for complicated GI disorders.


Dr. Bratcher most recently worked in a private gastroenterology practice in New York, with Jerome Siegel, MD, a pioneer in the development of ERCP. He was affiliated the Center for Digestive Health at Mount Sinai/Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and also served as a voluntary physician with Englewood Hospital and Hackensack University Medical Center, both in N.J.

He is board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, and fellowship trained in gastroenterology at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City and in Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at Beth Israel Medical Center/St. Vincent’s Hospital. Originally from Artesia, New Mexico, Dr. Bratcher received his medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and completed his residency and served as chief resident in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

For an appointment with Dr. Bratcher, call Gastroenterology Professional Services of BMC at 413-499-8590.

 


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Berkshire County Sheriff's Office Warns Public of Phone Scam

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler is warning members of the community about an ongoing phone scam involving individuals falsely claiming to be employees of, or affiliated with, the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office has received an increased number of calls from community members reporting that they were contacted by someone claiming to be a member of the Sheriff's Office from numbers with 413 area codes that sometimes show up on a caller ID as Berkshire County Sheriff's Department. During these calls, the caller claims the resident owes money for various reasons and attempts to collect payment. Scammers may request money orders, cashier checks, gift cards, or other items. Sometimes scammers will say a courier will come to a house to pick up the item or will request that account or gift card information be read over the phone.

The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office will never call a community member to demand or collect payment, request gift cards, or ask for. The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office will never send a courier to a resident's house. Residents should not assume a call is legitimate simply because the Sheriff's Office number appears on their caller ID.

Residents should not assume a call is legitimate simply because the Sheriff's Office number appears on their caller ID. The scammers are also spoofing the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office phone number, causing the legitimate number to appear on the recipient's caller ID in an effort to make the call appear authentic. Spoofing is when a scammer disguises a phone number, email address, or website to look like someone they know or a trusted agency's number.

"Scammers use fear, urgency, and the credibility of law enforcement to convince people that their demands are legitimate," said Sheriff Thomas Bowler. "If you receive a call like this, hang up. Do not provide personal or financial information, and do not send or transfer money."

Residents who receive a suspicious call should independently contact the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office at (413) 443-7220 to verify whether the call was legitimate. Do not use a phone number provided by the caller to verify their identity.

Sheriff Bowler urges residents to share this information with family members, friends, and neighbors, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams.

 

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