Massachusetts is now one of five states where a hospital has announced a mass layoff of 50 or more employees since July, joining Connecticut, Kentucky, Kansas and New York. Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) in Pittsfield, Mass., will pare down its workforce by 3.7 percent (124 full-time and part-time employees, or 94 full-time equivalent positions) next month, reports the Berkshire Eagle. The layoffs will impact 20 registered nurses and 15 technicians, as well as administrative and support services employees, with the majority of the staff reductions occurring at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. The health system expects to reap an annual savings of $6.6 million from the move, but will remain on track to lose millions from operations this year. These latest layoffs mark the third round of job cuts at BHS since July 2009. Article