Destination Better Health Offers Programs at Fairview

Print Story | Email Story
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,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

A Thousand Flock to Designer Showcase Fundraiser at Cassilis Farm

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — More than a thousand visitors toured the decked-out halls of Cassilis Farm last month in support of the affordable housing development.

Construct Inc. held its first Designer Showcase exhibition in the Gilded Age estate throughout June, showcasing over a dozen creatives' work through temporary room transformations themed to "Nature in the Berkshires."  The event supported the nonprofit's effort to convert the property into 11 affordable housing units.

"Part of our real interest in doing this is it really gives folks a chance to have a different picture of what affordable housing can be," Construct's Executive Director Jane Ralph said.

"The stereotypes we all have in our minds are not what it ever really is and this is clearly something very different so it's a great opportunity to restore a house that means so much to so many in this community, and many of those folks have come, for another purpose that's really somewhat in line with some of the things it's been used for in the past."

"It can be done, and done well," Project Manager Nichole Dupont commented.  She was repeatedly told that this was the highlight of the Berkshire summer and said that involved so many people from so many different sectors.

"The designers were exceptional to work with. They fully embraced the theme "Nature in the Berkshires" and brought their creative vision and so much hard work to the showhouse. As the rooms began to take shape in early April, I was floored by the detail, research, and vendor engagement that each brought to the table. The same can be said for the landscape artists and the local artists who displayed their work in the gallery space," she reported.  

"Everyone's feedback throughout the process was invaluable, and they shared resources and elbow grease to put it together beautifully."

More than 100 volunteers helped the showcase come to fruition, and "the whole while, through the cold weather, the seemingly endless pivots, they never lost sight of what the showhouse was about and that Cassilis Farm would eventually be home to Berkshire workers and families."

View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories