BMC Opens Imaging Center at Former North Adams Hospital

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center has restored general diagnostic imaging services in Northern Berkshire in order to provide easier access for the community.

Effective Monday, July 7, the BMC Northern Berkshire Imaging Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., located where radiology services were provided at the former North Adams Regional Hospital.

The center provides X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; walk-in X-ray services are also available.

The imaging department at NARH were lost when Northern Berkshire Healthcare abruptly closed in March and declared bankruptcy. Since then, BMC has been able to restore a emergency services through an agreement with the the U.S. Bankruptcy Court-appointed trustee for NBH.


Imaging services were reinstated as part of BMC's Satellite Emergency Facility at the hospital, but outpatient services were not available since they required a separate license. BMC has been working with state and federal officials to obtain proper licensing for outpatient imaging services and to offer a more convenient location for North County patients who require them. BMC hopes to resume outpatient mammographies as well as soon federal licensing is completed.

The Pittsfield medical center has hired five radiologic technologists for the imaging center. Four are former North Adams Regional Hospital employees and the fifth is a BMC employee who resides in North Berkshire.

Patients can enter the imaging center through the Satellite Emergency Facility entry, where they will be directed to the center, which is in NARH's former Radiology Department. Physicians will schedule patient appointments through central scheduling at BMC and the location of North Berkshire will be an option.

Additional services at the former hospital will depend on the outcome of the public bidding process for the bankrupt facilities. BMC has tendered an offer of $4 million; the bidding ends on July 31. BMC has not indicated what more it plans to do with the NBH campus should it be the successful bidder.


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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 
 
The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.
 
"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.
 
"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 
 
Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 
 
Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 
 
Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.
 
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