VA Hosting Agent Orange Town Hall in Pittsfield

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System and the Pittsfield Department of Veteran Services will host an Agent Orange Veterans town hall on Saturday, March 24.

The meeting will be held noon to 3 p.m. at Reid Middle School, 950 North St. The conversation is part of an ongoing series conducted by the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in its service areas. 

The veteran community is invited to learn about Veterans Administration programs and services from VA representatives, including regional VA healthcare leadership and staff, claims representatives from the Boston VA Regional Office, and Berkshire County veteran service officers. Veterans will have an opportunity to enroll in VA health care and inquire about financial and other forms of assistance, including compensation and pension benefits.

Additionally, attendees can seek input regarding Agent Orange health issues, Camp Lejeune water contamination and receive feedback about the VA in Berkshire County, according to John P. Collins, director of VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. 

VA Central Western Mass, based in Northampton, oversees the VA medical center in Leeds and five outpatient clinics including the VA clinic at 73 Eagle St. An estimated 2,000 veterans in Berkshire County receive care at the Pittsfield clinic.

For more information, call James Clark, director of veterans services, 413-499-9433.


Tags: public health,   veterans,   veterans services,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is the recipient of a $2,326 grant, funded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, for the purchase of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) device. 
 
The grant specifically covers a device for use inside one of BCC's security vehicles for easy access when traversing the campus.  
 
In total, the Commonwealth awarded more than $165,000 in grant funding to 58 municipalities,
13 public colleges and universities, and nine nonprofits to purchase AEDs for emergency response vehicles. The program is designed to increase access to lifesaving equipment during medical emergencies, when every second matters.  
 
An AED is a medical device used to support people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. An AED analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.  
 
"Immediate access to AEDs is vital to someone facing a medical crisis. By expanding availability statewide, we're equipping first responders with the necessary tools to provide lifesaving emergency care for patients," said Governor Maura Healey. "This essential equipment will enhance the medical response for cardiac patients across Massachusetts and improve outcomes during an emergency event."  
 
The funds were awarded through a competitive application process conducted by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).  
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories