BMC Nationally Recognized with an 'A' Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center received an "A" Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022.
 
This national distinction recognizes BMC's achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. Berkshire Medical Center has achieved an "A" grade for four successive ranking periods – Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021 and Fall 2020.
 
"The staff of Berkshire Medical Center places the highest priority on the safety of our patients," said Darlene Rodowicz, President and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. "We are committed to providing the best care for every patient, every encounter, every day."
 
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an "A," "B," "C," "D," or "F" grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
 
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
 
"As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Berkshire Medical Center for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "An ‘A' Safety Grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud."
 
To see BMC's full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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