BMC Recognized for Hip Fracture Clinical Achievements from Healthgrades

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has announced that Berkshire Medical Center (BMC), in partnership with Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, has achieved a 5-Star Rating for clinical excellence from Healthgrades.

BMC was rated 5-stars for Hip Fracture Treatment for 2025.

"The outstanding orthopaedic team at Berkshire Medical Center, working hand in hand with our exceptional Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates partners provide the highest standard of care for our hip fracture patients," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "BMC’s hip fracture outcomes and this 5-star recognition validate a commitment to returning our patients as quickly as possible to their active lifestyles."

As part of its 2025 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine the top performers in specialty care. By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades helps consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.

"Healthgrades commends Berkshire Medical Center and its orthopaedic specialists for their clear commitment to delivering consistently superior patient outcomes in critical service areas, including this 5-Star rating for Hip Fracture Treatment," said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. BMC’s leadership, expertise, and unwavering dedication to clinical excellence set a high mark for specialty care in Massachusetts and nationwide."

Consumers can visit healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access a patient-friendly overview of how we rate and why hospital quality matters here.

Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
10:55AM / Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.