CHP Berkshires Expands Primary Care Team

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Michelle Bedard, FNP and Sharon Bigler, FNP
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — CHP Berkshires has expanded its primary care practice with new clinicians at practice locations in North Adams and Lee.
 
Michelle M. Bedard, Adult Acute Care Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, has joined the primary care team at CHP North Adams Family Medical, where she will care for patients 13 years and older. 
 
She earned her doctor of nursing degree from Elms College, concentrating on adult-gerontology acute care and earning certification in this specialty. She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University and earlier received her associate degree in nursing from Berkshire Community College (BCC).
 
She also received training as a licensed practical nurse at BCC, where she earned a Clinical Excellence Award in 2014. 
 
Bedard completed her advanced practice nursing rotations at Berkshire Medical Center in the ICU and as a hospitalist. As a registered nurse, she worked for eight years in the BMC emergency department, and previously she worked as a licensed practical nurse and as a certified nursing assistant. 
 
Bedard is a resident of Adams, where she lives with her two sons.
 
Sharon K. Bigler, a family nurse practitioner, has joined CHP Lee Family Practice, where she will care for patients of all ages.
 
She earned her doctorate of nursing practice at the University of Tulsa (OK), where she also received her bachelor of science in nursing. Prior to earning her DNP, Sharon was a critical care nurse, working for 15 years in medical-surgical, cardiovascular, burn, and neurotrauma intensive care units. Earlier, she worked for two years as a registered nurse case manager.
 
She and her husband reside in Pittsfield.
 

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Clarksburg Joining Drug Prevention Coalition

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board has agreed to join a collaborative effort for drug prevention and harm reduction.
 
The new coalition will hire a North County community coordinator who will be headquartered on the North Adams Regional Hospital campus and who oversee allocations for harm reduction, education and prevention efforts. Berkshire Health Systems has also committed about $120,000 over the next five years. 
 
Clarksburg, one of the first communities to sign on to the opioid lawsuit filed by a consortium of states several years ago, has so far received payouts of $23,594.78. It's expected to receive nearly $64,000 by the end of the 16-year payout. 
 
In October, the board had discussed whether to pool that money with other communities, expressing concerns that the small town would not receive enough benefits.
 
"Anytime there's a pooling of money I think countywide, I think we know where the bulk goes to," said member Colton Andrew said Monday. "I'm more open to the idea of keeping the money here but open to hearing your intentions and how the mony will be allocated."
 
Chair Robert Norcross said he felt there seemed to be a focus on harm reduction, such as the use of Narcan, and not enough for prevention or problem-solving.
 
But after hearing from members of the nascent coalition, members voted Monday night to partner with other Northern Berkshire communities.
 
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