By Jim Kinney | Springfield Republican September 23, 2015
PITTSFIELD - Berkshire Medical Center will be the first member of the new Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Care Collaborative, according to a statement issued Tuesday by Berkshire Medical Center.
This means that Berkshire Medical Center is agreeing to meet standards and practices set by the Boston hospitals in a number of facets of Berkshire's cancer programs. Berkshire Medical Center will also face annual reviews of its standards and practices. Berkshire Medical Center staff will have access to educational opportunities and medical specialists at Dana-Farber/ Brigham and Women's Cancer Center.
PITTSFIELD - Berkshire Medical Center will be the first member of the new Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Care Collaborative, according to a statement issued Tuesday by Berkshire Medical Center.
This means that Berkshire Medical Center is agreeing to meet standards and practices set by the Boston hospitals in a number of facets of Berkshire's cancer programs. Berkshire Medical Center will also face annual reviews of its standards and practices. Berkshire Medical Center staff will have access to educational opportunities and medical specialists at Dana-Farber/ Brigham and Women's Cancer Center.
In response to emailed questions,Michael Leary, director of media relations at parent organization Berkshire Health Systems, wrote:
"The collaborative creates a formal link between the two institutions, and includes annual reviews for standards and practices at (Berkshire Medical Center), while also providing educational opportunities for caregivers. Berkshire Medical Center patients will also have ready access to physicians from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's to provide second opinions and consults. For many years (Berkshire Medical Center's) oncologists have had a very good working relationship with the medical staff at Dana-Farber, and this will strengthen that already very positive relationship."
Dana-Farber / Brigham and Women's Cancer Center doctors may run second opinion clinics on-site at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, according to the statement.
The Berkshire Medical Center Cancer Center, which opened in 2014 is located at its Hillcrest Campus in Pittsfield.
Since 2014, Berkshire health Systems has run a north campus at the former North Adams Regional Hospital after that hospital abruptly shut down. Leary said Tuesday that the Berkshire Medical Center has a satellite physician office in North Adams, where the oncologists see patients. But any chemotherapy or other treatments are done in Pittsfield.
Doctors at the cancer center said they want to use the arrangement with Berkshire Medical Center as a template.
Dr. Andrew Norden, chief medical officer of Dana-Farber Community Cancer Care wrote in an email:
"We are hopeful that this collaborative model will be a platform for additional affiliations in Massachusetts and beyond in the coming years."
Leary said the three institutions -- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber and Berkshire Medical Center -- plan to file a notice of the agreement with the Health Policy Commission today, Wednesday.
"The collaborative creates a formal link between the two institutions, and includes annual reviews for standards and practices at (Berkshire Medical Center), while also providing educational opportunities for caregivers. Berkshire Medical Center patients will also have ready access to physicians from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's to provide second opinions and consults. For many years (Berkshire Medical Center's) oncologists have had a very good working relationship with the medical staff at Dana-Farber, and this will strengthen that already very positive relationship."
Dana-Farber / Brigham and Women's Cancer Center doctors may run second opinion clinics on-site at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, according to the statement.
The Berkshire Medical Center Cancer Center, which opened in 2014 is located at its Hillcrest Campus in Pittsfield.
Since 2014, Berkshire health Systems has run a north campus at the former North Adams Regional Hospital after that hospital abruptly shut down. Leary said Tuesday that the Berkshire Medical Center has a satellite physician office in North Adams, where the oncologists see patients. But any chemotherapy or other treatments are done in Pittsfield.
Doctors at the cancer center said they want to use the arrangement with Berkshire Medical Center as a template.
Dr. Andrew Norden, chief medical officer of Dana-Farber Community Cancer Care wrote in an email:
"We are hopeful that this collaborative model will be a platform for additional affiliations in Massachusetts and beyond in the coming years."
Leary said the three institutions -- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber and Berkshire Medical Center -- plan to file a notice of the agreement with the Health Policy Commission today, Wednesday.
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