In the article written by Ms. Fields, it states the Berkshire Medical Center is one of the “100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” I beg to differ! If Ms. Fields had indeed done her homework and research, she would have found there is a good deal of unrest at BMC, especially with the nurses currently employed there. Charlie Rasmussen, a spokesman for the Western Massachusetts chapter of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, said his organization is very skeptical of the award. Further he adds, “We would question how it can be a top place to work when they haven’t been able to reach an agreement with one of the largest groups of employees [in Berkshire County], when many people are not happy with the administration.”
“We would also question where this award comes from. It’s an organization we’ve never heard of before, and the timing of it is suspect.”
My wife was a longtime employee at BMC, and she is currently shocked with the layoffs over the last three years there and the understaffing of RNs on the hospital’s floors. She had to have an ileostomy two and a half years ago, and the physicians (hospitalists) were unable to help her after the surgery. A doctor and a nurse told us she should go to the Lahey Clinic for treatment because she would not get the proper care at BMC. She is alive today for that advice, which we readily took.
Our viewpoint is not just one voice sounding off, if you lived here you would hear many voices that are most disappointed with the care they have received at BMC and further, there is a growing sense of urgency in the city of Pittsfield that the current administration is not listening to what is taking place at the hospital.
I am sorry to report this, but Ms. Fields is way off base with her article. She should have been more diligent in her research.
Sincerely,
James K. Ervin
