Saint Anne’s Hospital earns recognition for knee and hip replacement

FALL RIVER – Saint Anne’s Hospital has earned designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The national Blue Distinction Center program helps patients identify hospitals that have demonstrated a commitment to providing quality care and better outcomes for specialized care. Blue Distinction Centers+ also have met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable health care.

Saint Anne’s Hospital is one of 24 hospitals in Massachusetts to earn recognition as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, including primary and revision surgeries.

Saint Anne’s was the area’s first hospital to earn Blue Distinction recognition for knee and hip replacement by BCBS in 2011. It also earned the first national Gold Seal of Approval certification by The Joint Commission for knee and hip replacement in Bristol County in 2015.

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The goal of the Blue Distinction program is to identify medical facilities that deliver better overall quality and medical outcomes for a specific area of specialty care, helping patients and doctors to make more informed hospital choices. BCBS collaborates with expert physicians and medical organizations to determine the selection criteria for all Blue Distinction programs.

Saint Anne’s Hospital President Craig Jesiolowski said that Saint Anne’s Blue Distinction+ designation reflects the high level of expertise required for an outstanding orthopedic program, plus the hospital’s ability to provide services cost-effectively.

“Our physicians and surgical teams collaborate continuously to create high-quality, patient-focused care. Not only does our Center for Orthopedic Excellence offer a wide range of joint replacement procedures, including the first-in-Massachusetts robotic-assisted MAKOplasty,” he said. “We’re also privileged to have some of the region’s most qualified and committed surgical professionals, including general and specialty surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists and technologists, who collaborate on achieving excellent care coordination and patient outcomes.”

Dr. Jerald Katz, chair of orthopedics at Saint Anne’s Hospital, also noted that the hospital’s designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement is a well-earned honor.

“Saint Anne’s Center of Orthopedic Excellence is the result of ongoing collaboration between the orthopedic team and hospital leaders to develop facilities, staffing and high surgical standards for patients of all ages,” he said. “Research shows that patients who get specialty treatment at Blue Distinction Centers have shown better results, including fewer medical complications, fewer readmissions and better patient outcomes. Saint Anne’s ‘plus’ designation also demonstrates that this is achievable while meeting strict cost-of-care criteria. As a surgeon, it’s gratifying to work in a facility that has demonstrated expertise in areas that matter most to patients: quality care, treatment expertise and patient outcomes.”

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