BHS Hospitals Recognized For Their Commitment to Providing High-Quality Cardiovascular Care

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital and North Adams Regional Hospital have received 18 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

In 2026, Berkshire Medical Center received five awards, Fairview Hospital had six awards, and North Adams Regional Hospital was recognized with seven awards.

BMC, Fairview and North Adams Regional also received the 2026 Get With The Guidelines Commitment to Quality Award, provided to an elite group of hospitals having reached an achievement level in three or more Get With The Guidelines programs, stated a press release. 

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart?Association's?2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest science-backed guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, Berkshire Health Systems' hospitals qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care.

"Berkshire Health Systems is committed to delivering high-quality care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely, appropriate care for heart attacks and strokes," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "Get With The Guidelines programs help our teams put proven science into practice every day, supporting better outcomes so more people in the Berkshires can live longer, healthier lives."

This year, BHS received these achievement awards: 

Berkshire Medical Center

  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD STEMI Referring Gold  
  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD NSTEMI Bronze 
  • Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus 
  • Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure Gold Plus, with Target: Heart Failure Optimal and Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
  • Get With The Guidelines – Commitment to Quality  

Fairview Hospital  

  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD Bronze Referring  
  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD Rural STEMI Gold 
  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD Rural NSTE-ACS Silver
  • Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure Rural Gold 
  • Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Rural Silver
  • Get With The Guidelines – Commitment to Quality 

North Adams Regional Hospital

  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD NSTEMI-ACS Silver
  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD NSTEMI Bronze
  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD STEMI Referring Bronze  
  • Get With The Guidelines - CAD Rural STEMI Gold 
  • Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Rural Silver 
  • Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure Rural Silver 
  • Get With The Guidelines – Commitment to Quality

 


Tags: BHS,   BMC,   Fairview Hospital,   

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the  POST Commission. 

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission. 

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted.  On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April. 

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday. 

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.  

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads. 

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline." 

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