BMC Receives Straight A Grade for Patient Safety

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Leapfrog Group, a Washington, D.C-based organization aiming to improve healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers, has announced the Fall 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades and awarded Berkshire Medical Center the elite designation of "A" for its continued achievement in patient safety.

BMC is one of only 42 "Straight A" hospitals in the United States to be awarded an "A" every grading cycle since 2012.

"This consistent recognition for patient safety is reflective of the dedication our care team has to providing nothing but the best and safest care possible," said David Phelps, president and chief executive officer of Berkshire Health Systems. "I congratulate and thank our physicians, nurses and all support staff who have and continue to contribute to this commitment to excellence, which places BMC among an elite group of hospitals nationwide for patient safety."


The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to approximately 2,500 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

"Only a very select group of hospitals nationally continue to earn an A Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade year after year. It shows an unbroken commitment to protecting patients from preventable errors and accidents that harm and even kill too many people in our country every day. Thanks to Berkshire Medical Center for always putting your patients first," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

To see more details on Berkshire Medical Center's performance, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients, visit the website.

 


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Flushing of Pittsfield's Water System to Begin

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Department of Public Utilities announces that phase 1 of the flushing of the city's water system will begin Monday, April 22.
 
Water mains throughout the city will be flushed, through hydrants, over the upcoming weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
 
  • The upcoming flushing for April 22 to May 3 is expected to affect the following areas:
  • Starting at the town line on Dalton Avenue working west through Coltsville including lower Crane Avenue, Meadowview neighborhood, following Cheshire Road north.
  • Hubbard Avenue and Downing Parkway.
  • Starting at the town line on East Street working west through the McIntosh and Parkside neighborhoods.
  • Elm Street neighborhoods west to the intersection of East Street.
  • Starting at the town line on Williams Street, working west including Mountain Drive,
  • Ann Drive, East New Lenox Road, and Holmes Road neighborhoods.
Although flushing may cause localized discolored water and reduced service pressure conditions in and around the immediate area of flushing, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that proper levels of treatment and disinfections are maintained in the system at all times. If residents experience discolored water, they should let the water run for a short period to clear it prior to use.
 
If discolored water or low-pressure conditions persist, please contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.
 
Flushing is an important operating procedure that contributes significantly to the maintenance of the water quality in the water distribution system. 
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