Berkshire Health System Offering Help to Patients of Dr. Tang
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems is trying to step into the health-care gap caused by the abrupt closure of a local primary care practice.
The state Board of Registration in Medicine last Thursday suspended the license of Dr. Shaohua Tang as an emergency measure, linking the physician to improper patient care and the fentanyl overdose death of a patient last fall. A hearing is being held this week.
Tang operated as Integrative Medicine at 85 Main St., which closed on Friday for "an emergency," leaving an unknown number of patients without care. A number of patients with prescriptions written by Tang were reportedly unable to get them filled at local drugstores.
According to a statement from BHS, it "will adjust and augment the Neighborhood for Health program to manage the coordination and continuation of care for Dr. Tang’s patients."
The program was opened last fall at the former North Adams Regional Hospital to provide an array of outpatient followup care, beginning with patients discharged from Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
Health system officials said discussions between clinical and support personnel on how to address the needs of Tang's patients began almost immediately upon learning of the suspension.
The area has had extreme difficulty in attracting and retaining primary care physicians, leaving Tang's patients in the lurch as they attempt to find new doctors.
"Berkshire Health Systems will work with area medical providers to assure that the immediate medical needs of Dr. Tang's patients are met, even though there was already a severe shortage of primary care providers in northern Berkshire County before the closure of Dr. Tang’s practice. Dr. Tang has expressed his willingness to assist in addressing this challenge in any way that he properly can."
BHS officials say they anticipate "full and effective cooperation of its own Williamstown Medical Associates, and Community Health Programs and other independent physician practices to address the immediate needs of Dr. Tang's patients."
Patients of Dr. Tang can call the toll-free hot-line at 800-832-2516 set up by BHS to find more information and get connected with urgently needed services.
Tags: BHS, health & wellness, license suspension,
