The first, most immediate strategy is implementing a team-based approach to primary care. Though BHS has long employed advanced practice providers, or APPs, (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in primary care, the health system recently began transitioning to a collaborative model of team-based care in which team members share responsibilities to achieve high-quality and efficient patient care. This coordinated team approach frees up time for more patient visits and prioritizes the learning and supervision of early career APPs.

The second component of BHS’s strategy to address the primary care shortage will be to launch an APP Residency Program that will provide supportive, structured clinical and professional education for a cohort of up to four early career APPs. This type of workforce development will build clinical confidence and professional autonomy, thereby fostering the growth of highly- skilled nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the primary care office environment.

According to the Massachusetts Health Policy Committee (MHPC) report, one in five (20%) primary care physicians who sees patients in an office setting is of retirement age (65 or older), but only one in seven (14%) internal medicine residents in training is choosing to be a primary care physician. In an effort to address the lack of primary care physicians entering the medical field and increase access in Berkshire County, Berkshire Medical Center applied for and recently received approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to create a primary care track within its internal medicine residency program and expand the number of residency slots by two per year.

Learn about our Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Since the BHS Career Pathways Program launched in 2022, nearly 800 participants have graduated, and BHS is seeing staffing improvements in crucial roles, such as nursing assistants, medical assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses. Each program includes paid education and on-the-job training time and covers tuition, books, uniforms and supplies, while also providing comprehensive health coverage and guaranteed employment with BHS upon successful completion of the program.

Explore our Career Pathways Program.