PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems' community teaching hospital, Berkshire Medical Center (BMC), in partnership with BHS's affiliate provider clinic at Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates (BOA), announced their ninth straight year of recognition as an Own the Bone Star Performer, a designation granted by the American Orthopaedic Association reserved for institutions that perform the highest level of fragility fracture and bone health care.  

 

BMC joins over 300 health care institutions nationwide that have participated in Own the Bone and its national web-based quality improvement registry, which provides BMC with the tools to support and treat fragility fracture patients. 

 

Through participation in Own the Bone and recognition as an Own the Bone Star Performer, BMC has demonstrated a commitment to helping patients understand their risk for future fractures and the steps they can take to prevent them. Own the Bone Star Performers like BMC must achieve a 75 percent compliance rate with at least 5 of the 10 Own the Bone prevention measures including: educating patients on the importance of calcium and vitamin D, physical activity, fall prevention, limiting alcohol intake, and smoking cessation; recommending and initiating bone mineral density testing; discussing pharmacotherapy and treatment (when applicable); and providing written communication to the patient and their physician regarding specific risk factors and treatment recommendations.  

 

BMC met 10 of 10 measures during the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 and screened 177 patients. 

 

"Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates and BMC are proud to partner in this national effort to aid our patients who suffer from osteoporosis-related fractures," said Anthony DeFelice, DO, the surgeon who leads the program for the Berkshire practice. "This is a group effort, and all members of our care team are focused on helping our patients take advantage of our support services so they can get back to their active lifestyles." 

 

Although more than 53 million Americans already have osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone mass, most will go undiagnosed and untreated. Due to an aging population, the number of Americans with osteoporosis or low bone density is expected to increase significantly.