BMC Nurse Criticizes Hospital Practices Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

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The main sign at Berkshire Medical Center's Pittsfield campus
Josh Landes

Today, The Berkshire Eagle reported that Berkshire Medical Center has 160 employees under quarantine. The Pittsfield, Massachusetts hospital is fielding COVID-19 cases in Berkshire County. Registered nurse Amber VanBramer works in the BMC Critical Care unit and is also a member of the Massachusetts Nurses Association bargaining team. She says some nurses are unhappy with a policy that calls for BMC employees to reuse supplies in the midst of the crisis – a policy that the hospital told WAMC is in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. VanBramer spoke today with WAMC.

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Josh Landes has been WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief since February 2018, following stints at WBGO Newark and WFMU East Orange. A passionate advocate for Western Massachusetts, Landes was raised in Pittsfield and attended Hampshire College in Amherst, receiving his bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Radio Production. His free time is spent with his cat Harry, experimental electronic music, and exploring the woods.