Berkshire Health Systems Updates Visitation Policies

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the most recent COVID-19 surge continues and following guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Berkshire Health Systems has updated its Visitation Policies for Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital and BMC and Fairview Physician Practices, effective Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. 
 
In most cases, the policy limits visitation to one care partner for non-COVID-19 inpatient units and allows limited window-separated visits for COVID-19 inpatients. The detailed policy can be found online at www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/coronavirus.
 
For the Emergency Departments, non-Critical Care and Critical Care Units and Medical Surgical Units, one care partner is allowed with adult non-COVID-19 patients. For adult COVID-19 patients in non-critical care units, no visitation is allowed unless a designated exception applies, and video visits will be made available. Patients in Critical Care with COVID-19 are permitted two care partner/visitors per day viewing through a window for up to 30 minutes and video visits can be arranged.
 
For non-COVID-19 pediatric patients, two parents/guardians/care partners are allowed, and for COVID-19 pediatric patients, one parent/guardian/care partner is permitted.
 
In the Family Birthplace at BMC and Fairview, one designated birth partner is allowed at all times. If the expectant mother has COVID-19, the designated birth partner may stay in the patient's room.
 
There are no visitors allowed in the Behavioral Health units unless there is a designated exception. A family meeting can be arranged with a behavioral health provider and video visits can be arranged.
 
Non-COVID-19 patients coming to the hospital for outpatient testing and services can have one care partner accompany them. Those with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or test should contact their provider to determine if an in-person visit is recommended, and if so, no one may accompany the patient to the office or testing/service location. These guidelines also apply to physician practices, the BMC Cancer & Infusion Center and other ambulatory services.
 
For more information, visit www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/coronavirus.

Tags: BHS,   BMC,   COVID-19,   


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Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.

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