Fairview Hospital Receives 2026 Women’s Choice Awards

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Fairview Hospital has been recognized as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience and a Best Hospital for Emergency Care by the Women's Choice Award.

These honors place Fairview among the top 100 hospitals in the nation within its size category, based on number of beds.

Hospitals that prioritize patient experience not only improve outcomes but also build trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships with their communities, stated a press release.

"Fairview's providers and staff can be justifiably proud of these national recognitions, once again validating their commitment to outstanding care," said Anthony Scibelli, Berkshire Health Systems Vice President and Fairview Hospital Chief Operating Officer. "We serve a very tight-knit community and the loyalty our patients and their loved ones have shown and continue to show push us to excellence."

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a positive patient experience is strongly linked to better disease management, treatment adherence, and overall health outcomes. It also boosts employee morale, reduces staff turnover, and helps attract top talent—making it a win-win for patients and providers alike.

"By raising your standards to meet the highest expectations—often held by women—you're giving everyone the best care possible," said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women's Choice Award. "This award is more than a badge of honor. It lifts the entire hospital and all service lines by recognizing the exceptional experience you provide—not only for women, but for all patients."

The Women's Choice Award for Patient Experience is the only national designation that combines HCAHPS survey results with primary research on women's healthcare preferences to identify the top 100 hospitals in each size category.

  • Hospitals are evaluated using a weighted average of the following HCAHPS measures:
  • Communication with nurses and doctors
  • Responsiveness to requests for help
  • Explanation of medications before administration
  • Providing recovery information
  • Cleanliness of rooms and bathrooms
  • Quietness of the hospital environment at night
  • Overall patient recommendation rating

Each year, more than 130 million emergency room visits occur in the U.S., making emergency departments a vital part of the healthcare system. Unlike other hospital departments, ER teams often interact with patients during moments of high stress, fear, and urgency—especially for women caring for children, elderly parents, or themselves.

"Emergency departments can be incredibly stressful, particularly for a mother with a sick child or an older adult facing a medical crisis," said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women's Choice Award. "Women influence 94 percent of all healthcare decisions, and they want to know which hospitals will provide fast, effective, and compassionate emergency care. Our award gives them that confidence."

The Women's Choice Award for Emergency Care is the only national designation that combines clinical performance, patient satisfaction, and women's healthcare preferences to identify top-performing hospitals.

Key criteria include:

  • Time spent in the emergency department
  • Percentage of patients who left without being seen
  • Timeliness of brain scan results for patients presenting with stroke symptoms (within 45 minutes)
  • Performance in treating severe sepsis, a life-threatening condition
  • Trauma center level designation (additional points awarded)

Hospitals must rank in the top 25th to 50th percentile nationally for these measures to qualify.

To learn more, visit www.womenschoiceaward.com.


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Q&A with First District Incumbent John Barrett III

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On Sept. 1, voters in the First Berkshire District will decide whether they want to send a new representative to Beacon Hill in Boston.
 
John Barrett III has served the district in the State House of Representatives since 2017, when he was elected in a special election.
 
He is challenged this time around in the Democratic Party primary by Andrew Fitch, currently a city councilor in North Adams, where Barrett served as mayor for 26 years.
 
There is no Republican on the primary ballot for the First Berkshire seat so the primary will effectively be the election for the seat. 
 
The two candidates met for their only debate on Aug. 13 at Williams College. iBerkshires.com reached out to both candidates to follow up on some of the points raised in the debate and get their thoughts on some other issues facing the district.
 
Below are excerpts from a conversation with incumbent John Barrett III:
 
Question: In addition to being a chance to talk to your constituents, a campaign is an opportunity to listen. What are you hearing about this summer?
 
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