Provider Profile – Suzanne Childs, BHS Occupational Therapist

Print Story | Email Story
Across the country, there are nearly 135,000 Occupational Therapists, and Suzanne Childs, who provides this specialized care at the Center for Rehabilitation at BMC, says OT goes beyond helping someone regain their functions for work.
 
"We promote functional independence for people and help restore not only vocational skills, but also homemaking and daily living skills," said Childs. "Occupational Therapy covers the full range of activities people of all ages do to live functional, meaningful lives."
 
Suzanne has been with BMC since 1994 and has served as an Occupational Therapist in the Berkshires for nearly 30 years, most of that time in the outpatient setting. She came to the Berkshires after providing OT services in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and later New York state.
 
"Occupational Therapists often work together with Physical Therapists, but our roles are quite unique. PT focuses on improving the patient's ability to move their body, whereas I concentrate on improving my patient's ability to perform activities of daily living. We help our patients to do things beyond their PT care, such as brushing their teeth, getting dressed, making meals and all of their other everyday tasks that may have been impeded by an illness or injury."
 
Suzanne is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and completed her clinical education at Toledo Mental Health in Ohio and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. Over the years, she has provided care for spinal cord injury, stroke, post-acute rehabilitation for children and young adults and general rehabilitation.
 
If you need Occupational Therapy or any kind of rehabilitative care, ask your primary care provider for a referral or call the Center for Rehabilitation at BMC at 413-447-2234.




Tags: BHS,   BMC,   


Pittsfield Council Adds Funding for Council Education in FY27 Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the third day of budget hearings, the City Council preliminarily passed all but its own budget, requesting that Mayor Peter Marchetti restore some funds to the education and training line. 

The proposed operating budget for Pittsfield in fiscal year 2027 is $232,782,090, a 2.9 percent increase from this year. Marchetti compared that to hikes in fixed costs: a 9 percent increase in health insurance, a 7 percent increase in debt service, and more than a 5 percent increase in retirement contributions. 

See the first two days of budget review here.

Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso's motion to reduce the $3,190 training line by $1,500 failed. Councilors instead asked that the $1,430 cut from reimbursements for the Massachusetts Municipal Association conference be restored. 

This would bring the proposed FY27 budget of $107,832 to $109,262, level with FY26. Marchetti has agreed to the addition. 

"I can remember having to basically sleep in a windowsill the first year I was councilor because I didn't have enough money in my campaign account, and the job I had at the time, I could not afford nights in Boston," Councilor at Large Pete White remembered. 

He and other councilors said the knowledge and networking from the annual weekend-long event in turn allows them to serve Pittsfield residents better. 

"I don't think any of us are up here asking for more pay. But I think it's important that we have a council that is educated and has the opportunity to learn more," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said. 

"And as somebody that has been to the conference multiple times, I've seen myself learn and bring it back to the constituents, and I've also seen colleagues learn new information and bring it back. It's a great resource for veteran councilors. It's a really great resource for new councilors, and I just wouldn't want to take that opportunity away from anybody, and most importantly, from our constituents."

Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody said the conference cost her nearly $500, but the knowledge she brought home could be put to immediate use. 

Councilor at Large Alisa Costa and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said it is important to ensure that city government is accessible to people of all income levels and from all backgrounds. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories