PROVIDENCE — The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has named 11 local hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers for five areas of specialty care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes. Blue Distinction Centers meet overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
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The Blue Distinction Specialty Care program designates Blue Centers for several specialties, including maternity, cancer, cardiac, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, and transplants.
This year, Rhode Island Hospital was the only local hospital designated a Blue Distinction + Center for cardiac care, which recognizes expertise and efficiency in delivering specialty care, including meeting consumers’ need for affordable care. Only those hospitals that first meet nationally established quality measures for Blue Distinction Centers are considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Centers+.
“Rhode Island Hospital has a longstanding commitment to outstanding and cutting-edge care, for our cardiac patients as with all areas of care,” said Rhode Island Hospital President Margaret M. Van Bree. “This designation by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island highlights that commitment, and I commend our outstanding Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute clinicians, Rhode Island Hospital nurses, rehabilitation staff and all here who contribute to the best possible outcome for our patients.”
Five area hospitals were named Blue Distinction Centers for maternity care. Southcoast Health’s Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, as well as South County Hospital in Wakefield were among hospitals named as Blue Distinction Centers for maternity care.
Care New England’s Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick and Women & Infants Hospital in Providence were further designated Blue Distinction + Centers for maternity care.
Seven area hospitals were named Blue Distinction + Centers for Knee and Hip replacement care: St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Newport Hospital, CharterCARE hospitals Our Lady of Fatima and Roger Williams Medical Center; Lifespan’s Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital; and South County Hospital.
Two area hospitals were named Blue Distinction + Centers for bariatric surgery: Kent Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center.
Three area hospitals were named Blue Distinction + Centers for spine surgery: Our Lady of Fatima, Rhode Island Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center. St. Luke’s Hospital was designated a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery.
Massachusetts hospitals were designated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts while Rhode Island hospitals were designated by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
“Designating Blue Distinction Centers offers patients a way to compare quality of care at different hospitals, and helps to ensure that they can make informed choices. Patients want the right care at the right time and to be sure they’re getting the best care available locally,” said Dr. Matt Collins, vice president of clinical integration at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. “We applaud the hospitals that have received these designations for their commitment to quality.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
