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Dr. Deborah Buccino and Adrien Conklin, BSN RN of MACONY Pediatrics discuss the addition of social prescription – prescribing cultural engagement as a protective, healthy habit – to their collaborative care work in the Berkshires.
“We can give prescriptions for medicine. We can give prescriptions to see a neurologist. But we can also give a prescription for something fun to do with your family. And that’s just as important as some medicines or referrals,” Conklin said.
Dr. Buccino said their participation in CultureRx social prescription has also meant getting to know patients more as people, instead of just their physical bodies. “It does a lot to combat physician burnout.”
Deborah Buccino, MD is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Medical School. Since completing a residency in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1996, she has practiced general pediatrics at MACONY Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Dr. Buccino is an Instructor of Pediatrics at Boston University Medical School. Dr. Buccino is a school physician at Berkshire School and previously at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
Her special interests include emotional development of children and families, adolescent medicine and gynecology, international medicine, post-concussion care, and healthcare technology. She serves on the boards of the REACH Institute and 18 Degrees Family Services for Western Massachusetts. Dr. Buccino was one of the founders of the Southern Berkshire Collaborative Care Team, a unique version of care coordination in the way it uses a care coordinator to link pediatricians and families with school systems, mental health and other community resources. The system promotes shared decision making, while enhancing family self-management and development of their strengths as they get help navigating our complex medical system. Children and families who were not previously accessing services are now strengthened through aligned, thoughtful, and truly supportive services, driven by personal relationships with their pediatrician and Care Coordinator.
Adrien Conklin, BSN RN is the Physician Services Clinical Operations Manager at Macony Pediatrics and East Mountain Medical Rural Health Clinic located in Great Barrington, MA. She has previously held various nursing positions in Care Management, Home Health Care and Acute inpatient care. She is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of people of all ages through well connected care. She currently resides in Pine Plains, NY with her husband and son.
Learn More About the Collaborative Care Model
Southern Berkshire Collaborative Care Team
CultureRx Berkshire Partners