BMC Joint Replacement Recognized for Quality

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Medical Center’s Total Joint Replacement Program has been recognized with an Aetna Institutes of Quality for Orthopaedic Surgery designation.

Aetna Institutes of Quality (IOQ) Orthopedic Care facilities are health care centers that are so designated based on measures of clinical performance, access, and efficiency for orthopedic care. In reviewing these facilities, Aetna identifies comprehensive orthopedic treatment centers that can provide both inpatient and outpatient procedures.

In order to qualify for the national designation, BMC’s program had to meet several criteria, including performing at least 200 knee-replacement surgeries and 100 hip-replacement surgeries in the most recent 12 months, accreditation by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a rapid-response team, and 24-hour emergency care. Also, the joint-replacement program must have been established for at least one year.

The hospital also had to meet several quality requirements, including having a quality-improvement program with initiatives focused on continuously measuring and improving orthopedic care.

BMC, in collaboration with Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, enhanced its Orthopaedic Surgery program two years ago with the development of the comprehensive Joint Replacement Program. The initiative is designed to provide the patient with the highest-quality experience possible, with preoperative education, state-of-the-art surgical procedures performed by highly skilled orthopedic surgeons, advanced anesthesia care and pain management, newly renovated rooms for optimum comfort and recovery, and post-surgical care, including rehabilitation.