NORTH ADAMS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

IN 2014, THE FORMER NORTH ADAMS REGIONAL HOSPITAL (NARH), WHICH HAD BEEN OWNED AND OPERATED BY NORTHERN BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEM (NOT AFFILIATED WITH BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS), CLOSED AFTER FILING BANKRUPTCY, LEAVING THE NORTH BERKSHIRE REGION WITHOUT AN ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE, THE GOVERNOR AND THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ASKED BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS (BHS) TO REOPEN AROUND-THE-CLOCK EMERGENCY CARE THROUGH A SATELLITE EMERGENCY FACILITY UNDER BERKSHIRE MEDICAL CENTER (BMC) LICENSURE. IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, BHS PURCHASED THE FACILITY AND PROPERTY THROUGH BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS AND REOPENED NUMEROUS OUTPATIENT SERVICES AS THE NORTH ADAMS CAMPUS OF BMC. IN 2024, BHS FILED AN APPLICATION TO REOPEN NORTH ADAMS REGIONAL HOSPITAL AS A, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL (CAH) AS CONGRESS HAD ENACTED UPDATED GUIDELINES THAT WOULD ALLOW NARH TO QUALIFY FOR CAH STATUS, WHICH IT HAD NOT QUALIFIED FOR IN 2014. IN MARCH OF 2024, EXACTLY 10 YEARS AFTER IT HAD CLOSED, NARH REOPENED AS A CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL, PROVIDING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CARE SERVICES, MUCH TO THE RELIEF OF THE NORTH BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY.IN FY 2024, NARH ASSISTED WITH INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE COVERAGE THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF THE ECU-HEALTH CARE PROGRAM. THE HOSPITAL SUPPORTED PROGRAMS LIKE BERKSHIRE BOUNTY, BERKSHIRE NORTH WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN NUTRITION PROGRAM, AND OPERATION BETTER START TO HELP THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY. THROUGH THE BERKSHIRE CONNECTIONS AND BERKSHIRE HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS, NARH SUPPORTED THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ACCESS SUPPORTS AND SAFE USE SUPPLIES. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND NARH STAFF PARTICIPATED IN THE BERKSHIRE 150 EXERCISE PROGRAM IN THE SPRING. THE HOSPITAL'S LANGUAGE SERVICES AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE BY OFFERING TRANSLATION SERVICES AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT HEALTHCARE. STAFFING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE, AND AFTER OPENING, NARH CONTINUED BHS'S WORK OF PARTNERING WITH MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. THE HUB TEAM, WHICH IS A GROUP OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES, MET WEEKLY IN FY 2024 TO ASSESS AND ASSIST HIGH-RISK COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE NORTH BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY ACCESS CARE.