Report Tracks 10-Year History of North Adams Regional Hospital
Highlights Investments and Decisions that Led to Its Illegal Closure
Where: Community Meeting at American Legion Hall
81 American Legion Drive, North Adams, MA
When: Tuesday, May 6 5 p.m.
As Berkshire Medical Center local and state officials continue to work on re-establishing desperately needed health care services for Northern Berkshire County, researchers with the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MNA/NNU) will present findings from a recently completed financial analysis of Northern Berkshire Health records over the last decade, which show that restoration of a full-service hospital is a viable and necessary option for the region, which serves more than 38,000 residents.
The findings of the report will be presented at the weekly Community Meeting at the American Legion Hall in North Adams on Tuesday evening, where residents, policymakers and former employees of North Adams Regional Hospital come together for updates and to plan next steps in the campaign to restore needed health care services following the illegal closing of the hospital in late March. Last week, plans were finalized for the opening of a satellite emergency service at the site of NARH as of May 19 under the auspices of Berkshire Medical Center, while the state Department of Health and Human Services has hired a consultant to explore the need for additional services.
“This report will provide valuable information to support our strong contention that a satellite emergency service is only a small first step to meeting the needs of this community,” said Ruth O’Hearn, RN, a long time nurse at NARH and an active MNA member who is working on the campaign to restore needed services. “The real solution to this crisis is the restoration of a full service hospital, which this report shows can and will be successful.”
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