BMC Recognized for Hip Fracture Clinical Achievements from Healthgrades

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has announced that Berkshire Medical Center (BMC), in partnership with Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, has achieved a 5-Star Rating for clinical excellence from Healthgrades.

BMC was rated 5-stars for Hip Fracture Treatment for 2025.

"The outstanding orthopaedic team at Berkshire Medical Center, working hand in hand with our exceptional Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates partners provide the highest standard of care for our hip fracture patients," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "BMC’s hip fracture outcomes and this 5-star recognition validate a commitment to returning our patients as quickly as possible to their active lifestyles."

As part of its 2025 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine the top performers in specialty care. By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades helps consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.

"Healthgrades commends Berkshire Medical Center and its orthopaedic specialists for their clear commitment to delivering consistently superior patient outcomes in critical service areas, including this 5-Star rating for Hip Fracture Treatment," said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. BMC’s leadership, expertise, and unwavering dedication to clinical excellence set a high mark for specialty care in Massachusetts and nationwide."

Consumers can visit healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access a patient-friendly overview of how we rate and why hospital quality matters here.

Multiple Fire Companies Battling Motel Blaze on Route 7

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
09:04AM / Friday, December 05, 2025

An image posted to the Pittsfield Fire page early Thursday morning.

LENOX, Mass. — Multiple fire companies are battling a structure fire at the Wagon Wheel Inn on Route 7.

 

Motorists are asked to avoid Holmes Road, Pomeroy Avenue and surrounding areas near Route 7. The highway between Holmes Road and the Lenox shopping plaza has been closed since about 6:30.

 

Pittsfield Police say traffic is being rerouted off Route 7 and into neighborhood streets. 

 

Lenox Deputy Fire Chief William Colvin said the call was received at about 6:15 a.m. by the regional dispatch center. 

 

 "At this point, the biggest thing now we're battling besides, a fire is just ice issues, with freezing ice," Colvin said. "Our local highway department, the Lenox Highway Department have been here sanding and MassDOT is also helping with traffic and with salting of the road."

 

The departments from the city of Pittsfield, north, all the way down from Sheffield, were on the scene.

 

The state fire marshal and representatives from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency were also at the scene.