| Leapfrog Names BMC Among Safest Hospitals in US |
| October 31, 2017 For Immediate Release Berkshire Medical Center Again Achieves Straight “A’s” for Patient Safety in The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade: BMC Among Elite Hospitals in US to Achieve Continuous Straight A’s PITTSFIELD, MA – Berkshire Medical Center has once again been named among the safest hospitals in the nation by The Leapfrog Group, the nation’s leading nonprofit watchdog on hospital quality and safety. The Leapfrog Group has announced new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for fall of 2017, and Berkshire Medical Center once again earned an “A.” BMC has achieved straight A’s since the inception of the Safety Grade in 2012, and is one of only 59 hospitals out of over 2,600 surveyed nationwide to attain this honor. “Berkshire Medical Center has been, and continues to be a national leader in providing the safest environment for our patients,” said David Phelps, President and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. “I congratulate our entire team of caregivers on achieving this extraordinary recognition again this year, which is only achievable through their daily efforts under the leadership of a board and management firmly committed to quality care and patient safety.” “Our consistent performance in patient safety is the result of our team approach to care,” said Diane Kelly, DNP, MBA, RN, BMC Chief Operating Officer, and Dr. Gray Ellrodt, BMC Chief Quality Officer and Chairman of Medicine. “Physicians, nurses, advanced practice professionals, nursing assistants, technologists, therapists, pharmacists, and all of our staff, work together to ensure that our patients receive the safest, best care in the nation. We thank every one of them for their dedication to the well-being of our patients each and every day.” “Straight ‘A’ hospitals are a rare breed. Not only do they achieve the highest national standards for safety, but they consistently maintain that level of excellence,” said Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That means that they put the well-being of their patients first, every hour of every day, year after year. We are proud to recognize that that tireless commitment.” Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. To see Berkshire Medical Center’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org or follow The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter and Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade mobile app for Apple and Android devices. About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. |
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