Berkshire Health Systems Hospitals Receive High Marks from CMS

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) reported that all three of its hospitals have earned high marks from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) in its annual star ratings. CMS ratings matter because they give patients an independent look at hospital quality, safety, and patient experience and help them make informed decisions about where to receive care.

“We are incredibly proud of our team of skilled and compassionate professionals who work tirelessly to care for our community. These CMS ratings are a validation that BHS’s care and services, right here in Berkshire County, not only meet, but exceed national standards,” said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of BHS. “Residents and visitors alike can feel reassured that their closest and most convenient hospitals also provide top quality care.”

For the second year in a row, Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) has achieved the significant milestone of four stars for overall quality based on how well it performs across different measures of quality, such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care. BMC scored at or above the national average on mortality, safety of care, and readmission rates, and performed well in patient experience and timely and effective care. Not all hospitals are eligible for evaluation in all quality measures; BMC’s rating is based on its strong performance in 48 of 52 possible quality areas. Notably, BMC is among an elite group of just four acute-care hospitals in the region (within 50 miles) to be recognized with at least four stars.

Fairview Hospital has received a five-star rating for overall quality. Fairview scored at or better than the national average in timely and effective Emergency Department care and quality measures for unplanned hospital visits, such as heart failure and pneumonia. Fairview’s overall quality ratings are based on its strong performance in 33 of 52 possible quality areas. Additionally, Fairview has also been recognized with a five-star inpatient survey rating, based on feedback from 152 participants who completed an HCAHPS survey, designed to evaluate various elements of patient experience.

North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) has achieved a five-star inpatient survey rating. As with Fairview, the patient survey rating measures patients’ experiences of their care on topics like how well nurses and doctors communicated and treated patients, and how well staff prepared patients to recover at home. NARH received inpatient survey feedback from at total of 126 participants who completed an HCAPHS survey. Because North Adams Regional Hospital opened as a critical access hospital just over two years ago, it has not yet produced enough patient data to qualify for an overall star rating.