Newswise — Porter Adventist Hospital is among the first in the country to receive designation as Blue Distinction Centers in two surgical services that have recently been added to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s expansion of its Blue Distinction® designation.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has designated Porter as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine SurgerySM and as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip ReplacementSM for demonstrating commitment to quality care in surgery and better overall outcomes for patients. St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster, another hospital in Centura Health, also received designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine SurgerySM.
“Our spine surgery and knee and hip replacement programs are among the best, thanks to the skill of our surgeons and the expertise of the entire surgical, nursing and therapy teams,” said Randy Haffner, Porter CEO. “Our patients benefit from knowing that they are in the best possible hands.”
Both the Spine Institute and the Center for Joint Replacement at Porter Adventist Hospital are inpatient units dedicated to caring for spine surgery and joint replacement patients. The physicians, nurses, therapists and staff have received specialized training to provide comprehensive care to encourage the best outcomes. Pre-operative classes are available to patients and their loved ones as they prepare for surgery. Free community classes are also offered to those suffering from back and neck pain to explore surgical and non-surgical options for treatment.
The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and for Knee and Hip Replacement, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available on www.bcbs.com:
• Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization• Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume• Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care• Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care• Shared decision making and preoperative patient education
The Blue Distinction designation is awarded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants. The program is part of The Blues® efforts to collaborate with physicians and medical facilities to improve the overall quality and safety of specialty care.
Porter received designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care in 2009.
The Blue Distinction® initiative has more than 15 years of experience in working with expert physicians and medical organizations. The goal is to help consumers find quality specialty care on a consistent basis, while enabling and encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery of care nationwide. Patients and physicians can be assured that the Porter programs met objective, evidence-based selection criteria. The hospital’s designation will be available on BCBSA’s public Web site at www.BCBS.com, as well as the Blue National Doctor and Hospital Finder.
For more information on Porter’s Knee and Hip Replacement Program, please visit www.porterhospital.org/joint. For more information on Porter’s Spine Surgery program, please visit www.porterhospital.org/spine.
About Porter Adventist Hospital Porter Adventist Hospital is a full service, Nursing Magnet® designated, 368-bed acute-care referral center for complex medicine and surgery patients. In addition to being ranked No. 1 in overall cardiac care in Colorado by HealthGrades, Porter specializes in cancer care, joint replacement, spinal care and transplant. Porter is sponsored by Adventist Health System and is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health care network delivering advanced care to more than half a million people each year, across 12 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, Flight for Life® and home care and hospice services. Porter’s and Centura's strength lies in the ability to offer a team of connected networks and shared resources to deliver accessible, reliable and cost-effective health care across the state. For more information about Porter Adventist Hospital, visit www.porterhospital.org or the Media Room at http://porter.mediaroom.com.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue ShieldAnthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado is available at www.anthem.com.
Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities’ overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians’ and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.
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