Policies and Notices
At Berkshire Health Systems we hold ourselves to the highest standards. It is both a privilege and profound responsibility to care for the patients of Berkshire County, one that requires we earn and continually maintain the trust and respect of our entire community — including our patients, families, visitors, and colleagues. See below for more on our Policies and Notices.
Community Code of Conduct
Patient Care and Privacy
HIPPA Notice of Privacy Practices/HIPPA Practicas De Privacidad
MA Health Care Proxy Form
Patient Bill of Rights and Patient Responsibilities
Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse-to-Patient Ratio
January-March 2024
Average Daily Census
Average Daily Staff to Nurse Census
Average Daily Staff RN to Patient Ratio
Berkshire Medical ICU
8.25
5.67
1:1.45
Fairview ICU
1.59
1.48
1:1.07
Financial Assistance, Billing & Insurance
Billing and Collections
Financial Assistance Policy
If you have medical bills because you did not have insurance, you may qualify for financial assistance. A paper application along with supporting documentation is required.
Many health care bills are for co-payments, co-insurance, or deductibles that are required as part of your health insurance. Those bills are not eligible for financial assistance.
Please refer to the documents below to find out if you qualify for financial assistance, or contact our Advocacy for Access programs for more information. You can also contact us via e-mail at fapinfo@bhs1.org.
MassHealth Application
If you live in Massachusetts, you may be able to get health insurance or help paying your health care bills through a state program like MassHealth, the Massachusetts Health Connector, or Health Safety Net. Each program has different rules and income limits.
To find out more and apply:
Visit a Berkshire Health Systems Certified Application Counselor at Advocacy for Access at either Berkshire Medical Center or Fairview Hospital.
Or go to MAhealthconnector.org
Community Health
At BHS, we care for the whole patient. This means we focus not only what we can see, hear, and assess during patient visits, but also the personal and external factors that shape overall wellbeing. Our teams focus on connecting patients to the resources they need beyond our health system to reduce health disparities that impact our community’s overall wellness.
Community Health
To view our most recent Community Benefit Reports, please visit: https://massago.hylandcloud.com/231cbs/annualreport.aspx
The Joint Commission Public Notice Regarding Safety & Quality of Care
The Joint Commission periodically conducts an accreditation survey of BHS’s two hospital facilities, Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) and Fairview Hospital. The purpose of the survey is to evaluate the organization’s compliance with nationally established Joint Commission standards. The survey results are used to determine whether – and the conditions under which – accreditation should be awarded to BMC and Fairview.
The Joint Commission standards deal with the organization and safety of quality-of-care issues, as well as the safety of the environment in which care is provided. As a patient, family member, community representative or employee of BMC or Fairview Hospital, you have the right to notify The Joint Commission regarding any concern about the quality of care provided, the safety of care provided, or the safety of the environment in which care is provided. Anyone believing that he or she has pertinent and valid information about such matters should notify The Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610 (toll-free) or e-mail at complaint@jointcommission.org