VIM Berkshires leads non-opioid pain management task force
Great Barrington — Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires (VIM) has convened an interdisciplinary community task force to address growing concerns about opioid addiction in the region.
The first meeting was held at Fairview Hospital and involved leaders from Berkshire Health Systems, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Brien Center, the Pittsfield Department of Health, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Railroad Street Youth Project, area medical providers, several alternative health care practitioners, and several volunteers and staff from VIM Berkshires.
“Clinicians here at VIM Berkshires routinely provide comprehensive non-opioid pain management using a holistic model of integrated care,” said VIM Berkshires Clinical Care Coordinator Ilana Steinhauer, FNP-BC. “We convened this meeting because we feel our clinic’s methods work well to alleviate our patients’ pain without using opioids. We want to share what we know, involve additional patients and gather more data on our treatments’ efficacy.”
VIM Berkshires patients with chronic pain are routinely given services such as acupuncture, massage, mental health counseling, nutrition counseling, and support group participation; opioid painkillers are rarely prescribed.
“VIM is proposing to formalize and expand this program to a broader cohort of patients and to gather data to verify the program’s efficacy,” said VIM Berkshires Board Chair Arthur Peisner. “This program in the Berkshires would serve as pilot to be duplicated throughout the county and eventually across the state.”
As a result of the meeting, a smaller task force is being formed to refine the proposal and seek funding for the pilot program.
State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli, who played a key role in encouraging VIM Berkshires to convene this group, said: “This is another example of how communitywide cooperation can bring great benefits to the county.”
–E.E.
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CATA receives NEPR Arts and Humanities Award
Great Barrington – Community Access to the Arts (CATA) has been selected at as a recipient of New England Public Radio’s (NEPR) 2016 Arts and Humanities Award. CATA is the first nonprofit organization in Berkshire County to be honored with the distinction.
Established by the New England Public Radio Foundation, Inc. in 2008, the NEPR Arts and Humanities Award recognizes the contributions of local talent and brings greater public awareness to the critical role played by musicians, artists, dancers, actors, writers, and teachers in western New England.
Recipients will be celebrated at the eighth annual Arts and Humanities Awards Gala to be held on Tuesday, May 10, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.
–E.E.
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Democrat Andrea Harrington to announce run for State Senate
Great Barrington — Attorney Andrea Harrington will announce her candidacy for State Senate on Tuesday, March 8. Harrington is a Democrat seeking the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden District seat being vacated by Ben Downing.
“I am running for State Senate because our district needs a leader who understands the challenges facing our communities and will build on the opportunities we have to create jobs and protect our children,” Harrington said. In addition to practicing as a criminal defense, divorce, and family law attorney, Harrington has been actively engaged in work surrounding expanding economic opportunity. “I am running to expand the bright spots in our regional economy – in court I have seen too many lives impacted by financial hardship.”
“I believe we need to expand economic opportunity in this region, and that’s why I joined the board of Berkshares,” Harrington said. Harrington’s work with BerkShares, Inc. focuses on supporting local business, growing entrepreneurship, and the new community-supported industry program. Harrington also volunteers with programs aimed at providing expanded educational opportunities for young people in Berkshire County: the Railroad Street Youth Project, the Crocus Fund, and the Berkshire Academies Mentors.
Harrington was born and raised in Berkshire County. She graduated from Taconic High School in 1993 and became the first person in her family to attend college and law school. She defended death row inmates in Florida before returning to Berkshire County in 2007. Harrington lives in Richmond with her husband, Timothy Walsh, who owns and manages the West Stockbridge Public Market, and their two children.
Harrington’s campaign announcement will take place on Tuesday, March 8, at 10 a.m. at the West Stockbridge Public Market.
–E.E.
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National Trust for Historic Preservation names The Mount a ‘Top Win’
Lenox — The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently recognized the efforts of the Mount to overcome past financial struggles by naming it to its list of “Biggest Wins and Losses for 2015.”
The National Trust interviewed the Mount’s longtime executive director Susan Wissler for its Preservation Leadership Forum Blog. The question-and-answer session was conducted by Katherine Malone-France, vice president for historic sites at the National Trust, and focuses on the lessons learned from the institution’s financial struggles, what’s next for the Mount, and how the continuing relevance of Wharton’s writing influences the Mount today.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the National Trust for our preservation work,” said Wissler. “We have worked hard to find a sustainable model for the Mount and it is very rewarding to be able to share our experiences with others institutions facing similar issues.”
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