Berkshire Health Systems Releases New Visitation Policy

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Health Systems has changed its visitation policies as the number of COVID-19 cases in the community are rising. 
 
The changes are effective starting on Monday, Nov. 16, and include:
 
• All patients and visitors must be screened for COVID symptoms upon entering a BHS facility.
 
• No visitation for visitors experiencing symptoms of illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, body      aches, loss of sense taste, or smell).
 
• Inpatient visitors/companions must sign in, show identification and be issued a visitor badge.
 
• Approved visitors must always wear a mask and perform hand hygiene before and after entering a patient's room.
 
• Birth partners, parents of children under 18, attorneys, PCAs, companions or designated support person of patients        with intellectual and/or physical disabilities are not considered visitors. They must be screened for symptoms and wear    a mask but may stay with the patient 24/7. They should have access to food and restrooms.
 
• No visitation for patients suspected of or testing positive for COVID - 19.
 
• Critical Care: One visitor at a time for 15 minutes between the hours of 4 pm to 7 pm (7 days a week).
 
• Emergency Department: One companion at a time.
 
• Medical/Surgical, Family Birthing, Rehab and Pediatric Units: One visitor at a time for 30 minutes each between the        hours of 2 pm to 7 pm (7 days a week).
 
• Behavioral Health Units: No visitation. Tele-visits can be arranged with provider approval.
 
• No visitors under the age of 18 except the child of a patient and the siblings of a patient.
 
• End-of-Life Circumstances: Number of visitors based on approval by the House Supervisor.
 
• Surgical Day/Endoscopy/Crane Center: A companion can accompany a patient to the department, leave and return to    pick them up and receive post-procedural teaching.
 
• Ambulatory or outpatient services, one companion/designated support person may accompany the patient to an in-        person provider, therapy, or diagnostic test visit.
 
• Patient Experience Department and Nursing can help with an alternate electronic means of communication for                individuals who are unable to visit in person.
 
The visitation guidelines will be updated as needed, depending on the current status of COVID-19 transmission in the community.

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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