Provider Profile: Dr. Ashley Miller

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Dr. Ashley Miller
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dr. Ashley Miller, a orthopaedic surgeon with Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, wants patients to know the importance of bone health as October is a month to celebrate World Osteoporosis Day. 
 
Berkshire Medical Center has received national Star Performer recognition from the American Orthopaedic Association's Own the Bone program for seven years straight, partnering with Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, where Dr. Miller practices along with several other outstanding providers.
 
"I prefer to connect with patients on a humanistic level, which gets at the very core of medicine," he said. "My goal is helping patients achieve a degree of functionality that is better than what they had before care, so that they can lead healthier and pain-free lives."
 
To that end, Dr. Miller describes himself as a generalist in the area of orthopaedics, who enjoys fixing fractures the most. But like many surgeons, Dr. Miller said procedures that make an immediate difference on an individual's quality of life are particularly gratifying.
 
"Restoring someone's mobility or functionality is really an awesome experience," he said. "Maybe it's because I'm such an active person myself."
 
Berkshire Medical Center is one of more than 275 health-care institutions nationwide that has taken initiative to ensure its osteoporotic fracture patients receive the highest quality care by implementing the American Orthopaedic Association's (AOA) Own the Bone program. The program is aimed to better identify, evaluate, and treat patients that suffer from an osteoporosis or low bone density-related fracture. The program brings attention to the severe health implications of fragility fractures (broken bones that result from a fall from standing height or less) and the multifaceted approach hospitals or clinics can incorporate to ensure these patients receive the most comprehensive care.
 
Star Performer designation is reserved only for institutions that have achieved a 75 percent compliance rate with at least five of the 10 Own the Bone prevention measures. Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates has achieved between 98 and 100 percent compliance on all 10 measures, based on data from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.
 
Dr. Miller earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed his orthopaedic surgical residency at the University of Cincinnati.
 
Having grown up in Vermont, among its scenic terrain, Dr. Miller's move to the Berkshires was in part so that he could be surrounded by mountains once again, and is reveling in the many opportunities for trail running, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with his dog.
 
For an appointment with Dr. Miller or one of his colleagues, call Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates at 413-499-6600.




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Big Votes Await Pittsfield City Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Tuesday is a big day for Pittsfield, as the City Council will take a final vote on the fiscal 2025 budget, a five-year trash contract, and water and sewer rates.

These will be taken in council chambers at the meeting beginning at 6 p.m.

The proposed $215,955,210 spending plan is a 5 percent increase from the previous year and includes a $200,000 cut to the schools. Councilors preliminarily OKed the number a couple of weeks ago with a last-minute cut to the district's budget after "unprofessional" comments from School Committee members.

This drops the school budget to $82.6 million.

All other city departments were preliminarily approved without adjustments over four hearings.

The Pittsfield Police Department budget is proposed to rise 4 percent from $14,364,673 in FY24 to $14,998,410, an increase of about $614,000. A 2.5 percent increase is proposed for the Department of Public Services, rising about $287,000 from $11,095,563 in FY24 to $11,382,122.

Mayor Peter Marchetti has also submitted orders to appropriate $2.5 million from certified free cash to reduce the FY25 tax rate, borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $10,192,500 for general fund capital expenditures, borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $7,700,000 for enterprise fund capital expenditures, and transfer and appropriate $234,000 from the public works stabilization fund to the Department of Public Services.

Councilors will also be tasked with the city's trash collection for the next five years, with contracts on the table between the City of Pittsfield and Casella Waste Management, Inc. for solid waste and recyclables collection and for the operation of the Casella-owned transfer station at 500 Hubbard Avenue.

Following three community meetings to engage residents, the council preliminarily approved the five-year contracts with Casella last week. This agreement uses automated collection instead of unlimited trash pickup VIA 48-gallon trash and recycling toters provided at no cost.

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