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BHS president and CEO Darlene Rodowicz poses Thursday in one of the new patient rooms at what will become North Adams Regional Hospital.
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The new patient rooms have state-of-the-art equipment and new furniture. The nursing staff had input in the design and selections.
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The nursing stations, left, face the glass doors of the private rooms.
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Staff lead tours through the hospital wing.
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People enter the lobby during the community open house at BMC's North Adams Campus.

North Adams Hospital's Revamped 2 North Welcomes Community

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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BHS President Darlene Rodowicz, left, and Lou Ann Quinn, nursing director of surgical services, the 'face of NARH.'
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The community turned out in force on Thursday night to see the changes made for the rebirth of North Adams Regional Hospital. 
 
"Absolutely beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. We've needed it for a long time. I'm happy to see it here," said Patricia Clairmont of Adams. "We used this hospital a lot for our X-rays and things like that."
 
Clairmont, who grew up on North Adams, was born in the "old" hospital and her children in this one. 
 
Her comments were echoed throughout 2 North as dozens of people walked through the wing to look at the refurbished hospital rooms ready and waiting for patients. 
 
"It's so exciting to be part of bringing this back to our community, and the support in the community, it's the excitement and it is their hospital," said Laurie Lamarre, vice president of North Adams Regional who had worked at the hospital before it closed. "It's great to bring expanded services ... you hear all those stories about transportation, and how difficult getting down to Pittsfield. And so to be able to provide care here, and expanded care, is great."
 
The upgrade is part of a $2.8 million investment by Berkshire Health Systems to prepare the building to resume operations as a critical care access hospital.
 
North Adams Regional Hospital closed 10 years ago this March when its health-care system went bankrupt. It was purchased by Berkshire Medical Center, which restored emergency and medical services to the campus and, last year, was able to pursue a "critical access hospital" designation that allowed it to reopen.
 
Darlene Rodowicz, BHS president and CEO, has been cautious about an actual date for opening since its pending several licensures and certifications, but believes it will be admitting its first patients by the end of this month. 
 
The facility's gone through a number of inspections, including a three-day survey last week for licensure. It's also waiting for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Massachusetts Controlled Substances approvals to be able to dispense meds. 
 
At that point, the newly opened hospital will have to take in two patients each for a 48-hour stay. The Department of Public Health, on behalf the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will do final review and the hospital will be cleared for federal reimbursements. 
 
"We want to work out our bugs and our processes in a new building," Rodowicz said. "So three or four patients, I think initially, and they'll be inpatients and observations. For the survey, they have to be inpatients for a two-night stay."
 
Senior Director of Clinical Operations Robert Boebert said they'll also be doing some internal drills, running several "patients" through the complete process from admission to surgery or treatment to discharge to billing, including with Northern Berkshire EMS.
 
"I think one of the important things is that you have the multidisciplinary team, right, so from the lab to pharmacy to therapy — it will be here to support and address anything that has a failure at that point," he said.
 
"Every little detail that we can think up on how we bring patients here and how we discharge patients, just going to go through process."
 
Admissions will be slowly expanded to up to 10 though the hospital's designation as a critical-care access facility allows for 25 beds. The rooms on 2 North, which had two- and four-bed wards as well as intensive care, have been converted into 18 private rooms, most with bathrooms.
 
Each room also has a window, new headwall systems (architectural features that carry electric, gas and other needs) and computers, the capability for telemonitoring, and large sliding glass doors that block noise for the patient but allow for observation by medical staff. The nurses' station runs parallel to the rooms and new elements include a charting station for doctors, an accessible shower, storage and refreshed visitor's lounge. 
 
The entire floor's been freshened with flooring, paint, wallcoverings and woodwork and the elevator closest to the wing (closed for several years) has been replaced. 
 
Hidee Taylor, a certified nursing assistant, is new to the hospital but excited to begin working in the unit. She'll be the unit assistant, a combination of administrative and clinical functions, and has plans to become a nurse.
 
"It's a beautiful floor. I think everybody's going to be wonderfully cared for," she said. "I'm super excited about my new position."
 
For Lou Ann Quinn, described by Rodowicz as the "face of NARH," it's a chance to see the hospital return before she retires.
 
"This is exciting. This is just everything to me," said Quinn, nursing director of surgical services. "When the hospital closed, I had opportunities to go anywhere. And I chose to stay with my community and I was honored that Berkshire Medical Center hired me to kind of be that transition person. ...
 
"It's an honor to see this process happen because I think we're going to do the best for the patients."

Tags: NARH,   

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Weekend Outlook: Mother's Day & More

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Check out the events happening this weekend including fishing, plays, and more.

Editor's Pick

Wild Acres Fishing Derby
Wild Acres, Pittsfield
Time: Saturday, 8 to noon

This free fishing derby is for youth 14 and older. Catch the biggest fish to get a reward. The first 100 children will receive a free food voucher. 

More information here.

Daffodil & Tulip Festival
Naumkeag, Stockbridge
Time: Through Sunday
 
Final weekend to walk the grounds of Naumkeag and see the thousands of flowering bulbs. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold on-site. 
 
More information and ticket purchase here

Multiple Days

'Big Fish'
Taconic High School, Pittsfield
May 8, 9, 14, 15,16. Times vary at 2 and 7 p.m.

The Taconic Theater department stages "Big Fish," a musical about son who goes on an adventure to find the truth about his father's wild and unbelievable stories.

More information and tickets here.

'The Prom Musical'
Berkshire Community College
Showings Friday through Sunday

A small-town prom is getting too much attention when a student wants to bring her girlfriend as a date. A troupe of Broadway stars arrive in the conservative community out on a mission to help in this musical comedy.

More information and tickets here.

Baby Animals
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield
Time: 11 to 4, through May 10

A sure sign of spring is the arrival of baby animals at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. See lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kids and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village, from daily talks about the farm and the Shakers to craft demonstrations to walks along the Farm & Forest Trail.

Admission is $8 to $20, free for children 12 and younger. More information here.

Friday

Night of Dreams Fundraising Gala: Berkshire Dream Center
Berkshire Hills Country Club, Pittsfield
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.

This annual gala is a major fundraiser for the nonprofit Berkshire Dream Center. Enjoy dinner, music, a silent auction, and more. 

More information and tickets here.

Dead Man's Waltz
Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy classic songs from bands like The Grateful Dead with a full bar. Bring your partner and dance and sing the night away.

More information and tickets here.

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
Time: 6 p.m.

More information here.

Karaoke Night
Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield
Time: 9 to midnight

Bring your friends and sing your favorite songs.

More information here.

Saturday 

Mass Kids Lit Fest 
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 10:30 a.m.

Children's author Carol Munro will do a "Springtime Storks" storytime, based on a true story of resilience and love between two migrating birds. Children will have the chance to create their own stork hand puppets and learn more about storks.

More information here.

'Williamstown in 1776'
Williamstown Historical Museum
Time: 11 a.m.
 
Local historian and Historical Commission Chair Dustin Griffin will speak on the politics and leaders of Williamstown at the start of the Revolution. The museum is at 32 New Ashford Road. 
 
More information here

Berkshire Carousel Opening Day
Berkshire Carousel, Pittsfield
Time: noon to 5 p.m.

The carousel on Center Street opens for the season with face painting and other activities.

More information here.

Mountain Mindfulness Yoga
Mount Greylock Visitor Center
Time: 1 to 2:15 p.m.

This free yoga class is open to all levels. Enjoy the mountain views and connect with nature.
More information here.

Rusted Chains
Zinky's Pub, Dalton
Time: 8 to 11 p.m.

Rusted Chains performs a tribute to the '90s.

More information here.

Sunday

50th Annual Mother's Day Women's 5K/Mile Walk
Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield
Time: 8 a.m.

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