BHS Hospitals Nationally Recognized For Cardiovascular Care

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — All three of Berkshire Health Systems’ hospitals – Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital and North Adams Regional Hospital – have received a total of 16 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline 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. 

"Achieving 16 recognitions for the exceptional care of cardiac patients shows the enormous commitment that the clinical staff of Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital and North Adams Regional Hospital have in providing the highest standards of care for our community," said Darlene Rodowicz, Berkshire Health Systems President and CEO.

For 2025, Berkshire Medical Center received a Commitment to Quality Award, signifying a hospital's dedication to high-quality, evidence-based care in areas like stroke, heart failure, and resuscitation, stated a press release. To earn this recognition, hospitals like BMC achieved Silver awards or higher in at least three of the AHA's Get With The Guidelines programs.  

"The many providers and staff at all three BHS hospitals can be proud of this remarkable achievement," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "BMC and Fairview have a long history of Get with Guidelines honors, and after being reopened for just over one-year, North Adams Regional Hospital is continuing that trend of excellence."

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association 2025 Statistical Update. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. 

Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline put 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 evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs, Berkshire Health Systems qualified for the awards by demonstrating how the organization has committed to improving quality care.  

This year, BHS received these achievement awards: 

Berkshire Medical Center

  • Commitment to Quality Award 
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Referring Gold  
  • CAD NSTEMI Bronze 
  • Stroke Gold Plus 
  • Heart Failure Gold Plus, Target: Heart Failure Optimal, Target: Diabetes  
  • Resuscitation Bronze 
  • Resuscitation Target CPR 

Fairview Hospital  

  • CAD STEMI Referring Bronze  
  • Rural CAD STEMI Gold 
  • Rural CAD Non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) Bronze 
  • Rural Heart Failure Silver 
  • Rural Stroke Bronze 

North Adams Regional Hospital

  • CAD STEMI Referring Bronze  
  • Rural CAD STEMI Silver 
  • Rural CAD NSTE-ACS Bronze 
  • Rural Heart Failure Bronze 

Tags: BHS,   BMC,   

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Pittsfield Schools Finalizing Bus Routes for Fall

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district currently has enough bus drivers for the upcoming school year, and families will know their child's transportation schedule in mid-August. 

With about five weeks left of summer vacation, Superintendent Latifah Phillips updated the School Committee on transportation for the 2026-2027 year with middle school restructuring and the closure of Morningside Community School. 

Busing is a question that has continuously been raised as the Pittsfield Public Schools approach an academic year with a couple of big changes. 

"The reason that the bus stops and times aren't shared until very close to the school year is that routes change based on every student that moves into the district and requires a bus, and so it's important for us to wait as late as possible to ensure that families are getting the most accurate timetable," Phillips explained during a meeting held at Reid Middle School on Thursday. 

"We are also continuing to explore after-school transportation for the four schools receiving Morningside, and a survey was given to students who attend the Summer Morningside 21st Century Program to assess transportation needs."

That survey found that transportation does not appear to be a big impediment to students participating in the after-school program, but funding is set aside to ensure students are able to access the same services as they were the previous year. 

The district is still planning to offer after-school programming for Morningside transfer students, and is working with the four receiving elementary schools (Allendale, Egremont, Williams, Capeless) to plan a practice bus ride. 

Phillips explained that, for someone who has never ridden a bus before, and especially a school bus, they want to ensure that students are poised for success and understand the rules and expectations before the first ride. Students will be able to get on the bus, ride the route, arrive at school, have a quick break, maybe play on the playground and have a popsicle, then return home on the bus. 

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