Blue Distinction designations are awarded to facilities that have demonstrated a commitment to quality care by meeting objective, evidence-based thresholds for clinical quality and safety developed with input from expert clinicians and leading professional organizations, according to the release. The growing number of spinal and knee and hip replacement surgeries led BCBSA to expand the program to these areas.
The two new Blue Distinction designations will bring the nation’s number of Blue Distinction designations to more than 1,600 across 46 states and the District of Columbia, according to the release. BCBSA expects 300 spine surgery and more than 500 knee and hip replacement facilities to be designated as Blue Distinction Centers by March 2010.
The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a panel of expert physicians and medical organizations. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement or a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, the following types of criteria were evaluated:
- 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; and
- Shared decision making and preoperative patient education
More information on Blue Distinction Centers and selection criteria is available at www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction/.
Read the BCBSA release about spine and knee and hip replacement Blue Distinction Centers.
