Berkshire Medical Center Earns 2021 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award for Outstanding Quality and Safety
PITTSFIELD, MA – Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Berkshire Medical Center was named a Top Teaching Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers recognized as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.
Berkshire Medical Center is one of only four Massachusetts hospitals honored with a Top Teaching Hospital award and the only one in Western Massachusetts. This is the second time in a row that Leapfrog has awarded BMC a Top Teaching Hospital recognition.
"Berkshire Medical Center has a long history of providing safe and high-quality care to our community," said James Lederer, MD, Berkshire Health Systems Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "The Top Teaching Hospitals are measured by a rigorous set of standards, including ICU physician staffing, receiving an "A" grade in the Leapfrog Patient Safety ratings, having high standards for high-risk surgeries and procedures and others. We are proud of our providers and support staff for this continuing recognition of their excellence in patient care."
Over 2,200 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Berkshire Medical Center received a Top Teaching Hospital distinction. A total of 149 top hospitals nationwide were selected as Top Hospitals, including:
8 Top Children's
46 Top General
23 Top Rural
72 Top Teaching
The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, surgery, maternity care, and the hospital's capacity to prevent medication and other errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year's Top Hospital Methodology.
"We are pleased to recognize Berkshire Medical Center as a Top Hospital this year," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Even with the continued strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Berkshire Medical Center has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to excellent healthcare in the Berkshire County community. We congratulate the board, leadership, staff and clinicians who put their patients first."
To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2021 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.
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.