Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association MEMBER MOMENTS: BHS’s North Adams Regional Hospital Has Reopened!
North Adams Regional Hospital – a member of Berkshire Health Systems – reopened last Thursday, 10 years to the day after closing under previous ownership.
Key to its ability to reopen was the change of its designation to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), which allows for cost-based (higher) reimbursements. Massachusetts DPH must still conduct a final survey of the hospital before the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services grants the CAH designation. That process is expected to occur shortly.
Among those at the ribbon cutting were BHS President & CEO Darlene Rodowicz, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, EOHHS Secretary Kate Walsh, State Rep. John Barrett, North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, BHS Board Chair Bart Raser, and various BHS leaders.
Congressman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) was instrumental in helping the hospital achieve the CAH designation by working to change the designation for such hospitals.
When operating at full capacity, North Adams Regional expects to serve an average of 8-10 patients and will be licensed to care for up to 18. It will offer a full range of services from a 24/7 emergency department to surgical care, outpatient services, imaging, and inpatient care. The average length of stay of patients must be four days or less; more complex cases will be treated throughout the BHS system.
“The reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital is a historic opportunity to advance the health and wellness of the Northern Berkshire community,” said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of BHS. “Expanding access to care for North Berkshire through a Critical Access Hospital is a key part of our strategic plan; we are thankful to Congressman Neal and his Massachusetts colleagues in the House and Senate, our Berkshire state legislative delegation, the municipal leaders across North Berkshire and the many people in the community who have steadfastly supported our plans to reopen NARH to provide the highest standard of care that the North Berkshire community expects and deserves.”
“Throughout my career in public life, I have stood by the notion that legislation changes lives. Today’s announcement is a living example of that belief, as the reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital will have a profound impact on communities throughout North County for years to come,” Congressman Neal said.