General Surgeon Brett Matthews Joins North Adams Regional Hospital

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the appointment of Brett Matthews, DO, a board certified and fellowship trained surgeon, to the medical staffs of North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) and Berkshire Medical Center and the provider staff of Berkshire Surgical Services. 
 
Matthews is accepting new patients in need of general surgery and surgical endoscopy services. He serves North and Central Berkshire patients at the Berkshire Surgical offices in Pittsfield and North Adams.   
 
Matthews has been practicing general and minimally invasive surgery for the past eight years and came to the Berkshires from Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport. He specializes in: laparoscopic and open hernia repair, laparoscopic foregut surgery, such as hiatal hernia or anti-reflux procedures, minimally invasive surgery on the small bowel, colon, adrenal and spleen surgery, upper and lower endoscopy, enteral and vascular access, mediports, and office excision for abscesses, skin and subcutaneous lesions.   
 
Matthews is not new to the Berkshires, as after receiving his medical degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine he completed his general surgery residency training at Berkshire Medical Center. He also completed a surgical residency at the University of Hawaii at Honolulu and a fellowship in upper GI endoscopy, advanced laparoscopy and bariatric surgery at the University of Massachusetts.   
 
"We welcome Dr. Matthews back to the Berkshires, providing minimally invasive care for surgical patients across the region," said Laurie Lamarre, BHS Vice President and NARH Chief Operating Officer. "NARH and BMC are committed to expanding access to specialty care for our community and Dr. Matthews brings a wide array of surgical skills to our hospitals."  
 
"I began my surgical training here in the Berkshires and am honored and excited to return and give back to the community that helped me become the surgeon I am today," he said. 
 
Matthews enjoys spending time outside running, swimming, golfing, skiing and hiking.   
 
For an appointment with Matthews, ask your primary care provider for a referral or call Berkshire Surgical Services at North Adams, 413-664-5411 or Berkshire Surgical Services’ Pittsfield office, 413-447-6420.  

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Key West Bar Gets Probation in Underage Incident

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Key West is on probation for the next six months after an incident of underage drinking back in November. 
 
The License Commission had continued a hearing on the bar to consult with the city solicitor on whether charges could be brought. The opinion was that it was up to the District Attorney. 
 
Chief Mark Bailey at Tuesday's commission meeting said he did not believe criminal charges applied in this instance because no one at the bar "knowingly or intentionally" supplied the alcoholic beverages. 
 
"I feel that the bartender thought that the person was over 21 so it's not like she knowingly provided alcohol to them, to a person under 21. She just assumed that the person at the door was doing their job," he said. "So I don't feel that we can come after them criminally, or the bartender or the doorman, because the doorman did not give them alcohol."
 
The incident involved two 20-year-old men who had been found inside the State Street bar after one of the men's mothers had first taken him out of the bar and then called police when he went back inside. Both times, it appeared neither man had been carded despite a bouncer who was supposed to be scanning identification cards. 
 
The men had been drinking beer and doing shots. The chief said the bouncer was caught in a lie because he told the police he didn't recognize the men, but was seen on the bar's video taking their drinks when police showed up. 
 
Commissioner Peter Breen hammered on the point that if the intoxicated men had gotten behind the wheel of their car, a tragedy could have occurred. He referenced several instances of intoxicated driving, including three deaths, over the past 15 years — none of which involved Key West. 
 
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