Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Receives National Award

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living recently announced the selection of Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as a recipient of the 2017 Silver-Achievement in Quality award for its outstanding performance in the health care profession.

Hillcrest Commons is one of only nine facilities in Massachusetts, and one of 191 facilities in the nation, selected to receive the silver award in 2017. The competitive award program highlights select centers across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long term care.

"We are proud to have received the Silver Award and we’re pleased that an independent panel of examiners saw the high value we place on quality care and service excellence," said Delores Duncan, administrator at Hillcrest Commons, which is an affiliate of Berkshire Healthcare. "Our focus at Hillcrest has always been on people. We want to continue to evolve our quality care and service to even greater heights."

"We congratulate the entire Hillcrest team on this achievement," added Bill Jones, president of Berkshire Healthcare. "It's a great example of how we are advancing quality across our affiliates with more and more Berkshire facilities earning recognition for quality care."

Fifteen of Berkshire’s skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have earned the Bronze award from AHCA/NCAL; 13 have also reached the Silver level; and two hold the distinction of the Gold award, the highest level in the program.



Based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program challenges member providers to achieve performance excellence through three progressive levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold. At the Silver level, members develop and demonstrate effective approaches that help improve performance and health care outcomes.

"It takes incredible dedication and passion to successfully apply the demands of the criteria," said Chair of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Christine Boldt. "I applaud Hillcrest Commons for reaching this level and for its commitment to always improve."

As a recipient of this year's award, Hillcrest Commons can now advance in developing approaches that meet the criteria required for the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award.

The awards will be presented to honorees on Oct. 17 during AHCA/NCAL's 68th Annual Convention & Expo in Las Vegas.


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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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