Destination Better Health Offers Programs at Fairview

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Fairview Hospital, Berkshire Health Systems' nationally recognized critical access hospital, will host Destination Better Health '24, a week of free health education, programs and resources offered under a tent next to the hospital at 29 Lewis Avenue in Great Barrington from Tuesday, June 25 through Monday, July 1.  
 
The program is designed to raise awareness through education and exposure to topics of interest to the community. The schedule includes morning, midday and afternoon programming and all events are free of charge. Pre-registration is requested and can be completed at www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/betterhealth or by calling Fairview's Community Relations Office at (413) 854-9609.

Tuesday, June 25
  • 12:00 noon         "Stress Release Through Hypnosis" will be led by certified hypnotherapist and BHS Wellness Coach, Doreen Donovan.
  • 9:00.- 2:30 p.m. BHS Bloodmobile will be on site (both Tuesday and Wednesday).  Appointments are preferred but drop-ins are welcomed. To schedule, call (413) 447-2597, option 2.
  • 4:00 p.m.             "The Role of Hormones in Bone Health" will be offered by Pier Boutin, MD of Fairview Orthopedic & Sports Medicine.

Wednesday, June 26

  • 12:00 noon           "Diabetes: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment Resources in our Community" will take place presented by diabetes educator, Lauren Whitney, of Endocrinology & Metabolism at BMC.
  • 4:00 p.m.,            "Berkshire Health Systems: Looking to the Future:" BHS's President and CEO, Darlene Rodowicz, will be joined by Fairview's Interim Vice President, Emmett Schuster, for a discussion of the challenges and opportunities for healthcare in the Berkshires.
Thursday, June 27
  • 9:30 a.m.              "Improving Veterans' Access to Care" is a coffee and conversation session for veterans and their families will include presenters Tom Baisley, Southern Berkshires Veterans Coordinator, Robert Shearer of BHS Urgent Care, and Kayli Manning of the BHS Nurse Line to discuss new services that can be helpful in accessing care.
  • 12:00 noon.       "Moving and Functionality: Signs and Strategies to Avoid Decline" will be presented by Fairview Hospital's Director of Rehabilitation, Victoria Guy, RPT, joined by Dr. Katie Hatt of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitative Services of BMC.
  • 4:00 p.m.             "10 Ways to Protect Your Heart and Local Resources to Help You" will be presented by Fairview's Cardiac Rehabilitation Department nurses, Ellen Brady and Cathy Samuels.
Friday, June 28
  • 10 :00 – 2:00.     "Learn How to Save a Life: Naloxone Training Drop -In." Berkshire Harm Reduction will offer ongoing training at Harm Reduction mobile van, which will be located in front of the Main Entrance to Fairview Hospital.
  • 12:00 noon         "Snoring, Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep Disorders" will be presented by BMC polysomnographic technologist, Thomas Rathbun, who will discuss sharing information about signs and symptoms of health issues, as well as diagnostic and treatment services available at the Berkshire Sleep Disorders Clinic in Pittsfield.
Saturday, June 29
  • 10:00 a.m.          "LGBTQ+ Aging Well PRIDE Potluck and Learning Lab at Fairview Hospital." In honor of National PRIDE Month, Fairview Hospital will host a special program for the LGBTQ+ community. The panel of speakers will include Bart Church, Interim Director of Q-Mob of the Berkshires, Maureen Daniels, BHS Director of Wellness, Doreen Hutchinson, VP Operation and Patient Care at Fairview Hospital, and Catherine Record, Certified Application Consultant at BHS Advocacy for Access.
Monday, July 1
  • 12:00 noon         "Preventing Food Allergies from Developing in Children," will be offered by Dr. Ronald Sunog, a pediatrician at MACONY accompanied by Robert Hoechster, Fairview Hospital nutritionist and father of a child with severe food allergies.
  • 4:00 p.m.             "Community Health Workers: Connecting You to Resources" will be presented by Adrien Conklin, RN Care Coordination of Berkshire Faculty Services, Halle Miller, a CHW working at East Mountain Medical Center in Great Barrington, and Deb Phillips, coordinator of the Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network, who will also share information about 413Cares, a website listing resources in the community.
In addition to the programs above, the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce (SBCOC) will partner with Fairview for the June Networking Before Nine meeting on Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 at Fairview Hospital under the Destination Better Health tent. "Developing Our Future Workforce" will be presented by a panel of speakers including Courtney Warren, BHS Manager of Talent Development, Lauren Cameron of Warrior Trading and Pam Wojtkowski- MassHire Career Center.  Pre-registration is required by calling the SBCOC at (413) 528-4284. There is a fee to cover the cost of breakfast.

 


Tags: BHS,   BMC,   Fairview Hospital,   

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Butternut Fire Command Terminated After 2 Weeks

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — After about two weeks of working to contain the Butternut Fire, the incident command has ended.

"I am extremely proud of the leadership and firefighters that put forth such extraordinary work to bring this incident to a close," Town Manager Mark Pruhenski said in a press release issued on Sunday.

"It has been a long time since Great Barrington has seen such an incident, the collaboration between all of the agencies was impressive."

On Sunday around 2 p.m., Fire Chief Scott Turner made the decision because "based on weather changes, fuel conditions, and the monumental work of our firefighters and mutual aid, the fire is clearly under control and not expected to spread any further."

He added that Great Barrington's homes and businesses are safe. The wooded area is expected to remain dangerous for months but should regenerate in the spring.

The fire spread because of the extremely dry conditions over the past few months; some rain the week before followed by snow and sleet over the holiday had helped with containment efforts.

Personnel and apparatuses that had been in place 24/7 since Nov. 18 were released but the department will remain ready to respond to any extension or minor growth.

The fire consumed 1,670 acres, spanning over 3 miles in length with a perimeter of more than 10 miles.  Fire Lt. Brian Mead said the wildfire's potential for devastation far exceeded what firefighters were able to contain and not a single home or structure was damaged nor firefighter injured.

"At the end of an incident of this magnitude that has such risk, that is without a doubt, a victory," he said.

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