IBC - Blue Distinction
2013 Abington Memorial Hospital Recognized for Quality in Cardiac Care
Independence Blue Cross has recognized Abington Memorial Hospital as one of the first hospitals in the nation to receive a Blue Distinction Center+SM designation in the area of cardiac care, as part of the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care® program.
Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective, transparent measures for patient safety and health outcomes that were developed with input from the medical community. This year, the national program has added a new designation level, Blue Distinction Centers+, to recognize hospitals that deliver both quality and cost-efficient specialty care.
IBC - Blue Distinction
2013 AMH Receives Blue Distinction Center+ Designation for Quality and Efficiency in Spine Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement
Independence Blue Cross has named Abington Memorial Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center+ in both Spine Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care®program is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care – which expanded recently to include more robust quality measures focused on improved patient health and safety, as well as new cost-efficiency measures.
Since 2006, consumers, medical providers and employers have relied on the Blue Distinction program to identify hospitals delivering quality care in Bariatric Surgery, Cardiac Care, Complex and Rare Cancers, Knee and Hip Replacements, Spine Surgery and Transplants. The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from the medical community and include general quality and safety metrics plus program specific metrics. Abington Memorial Hospital is proud to have met the rigorous selection criteria set by the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program.
2010 Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacements
Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia designated AMH as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine SurgerySM and as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip ReplacementSM. Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery and Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's expansion of its Blue Distinction® designation.
"This designation is a tribute to more than a decade of hard work by our nurses, doctors, physical therapists and support staff, virtually everyone involved in our program, who have focused on developing the most advanced musculoskeletal program for our patients," said Andrew M. Star, M.D., chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Abington Memorial Hospital and director of the Human Motion Institute.
Performing more than 1,000 joints last year, the Human Motion Institute was the first teaching hospital in Pennsylvania to have received the prestigious Gold Seal of Approval and Disease Specific Certification from the Joint Commission for the hip and knee replacement program. The center offers the most advanced techniques in joint replacement including the new anterior approach, which spares muscles and ligaments, enabling quicker rehabilitation and return to work.
AMH spine surgeons – orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons – performed over 800 spine procedures last year, using minimally invasive techniques and the latest devices. An AMH orthopaedist recently performed the first Superion clinical trial in Pennsylvania for advanced spinal stenosis patients.
2010 Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care
As one of the region's leaders in cardiac care, AMH received the designation of Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care® by Independence Blue Cross. Originally certified as a Blue Distinction Center in 2006, AMH’s Cardiac Care received redesignation in 2010.
Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care demonstrate their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Abington Memorial Hospital meets evidence-based clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations, including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and is subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continues to evolve.
"This designation recognizes the dedicated team approach and long-term experience of the many cardiac specialists and advanced medical professionals involved in providing advanced cardiovascular care through Abington's Pilla Heart Center," said Mauricio J. Garrido, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and acting chief, Cardiac Surgery. "This includes establishing one of the region's first open-heart programs more than a decade ago, breakthroughs and firsts in complex valve surgery, as well as leading-edge interventional treatments for atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure."
Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians' and medical organizations' recommendations. Today, more than 1,600 Blue Distinction Center designations have been awarded to facilities nationwide, providing consumers with a framework for making informed decisions on where to go for specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants.
2008 Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers
Independence Blue Cross selected The Rosenfeld Cancer Center as one of the Delaware Valley's four Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare CancersSM. The Rosenfeld Cancer Center received the designation for its comprehensive inpatient cancer care programs delivered by multidisciplinary teams with subspecialty training and distinguished clinical expertise in treating complex and rare cancers, as well as, for its major surgical treatments for these rare types of cancer.
Among other selection criteria, AMH met the following thresholds necessary to be named as a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers for: depth of expertise across cancer disciplines in medicine, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology and radiology and has multidisciplinary team input, including sub-specialty trained teams for complex and rare cancers; ongoing quality management and improvement programs for cancer care; an ongoing commitment to using clinical data registries and providing access to appropriate clinical research for complex and rare cancers; and sufficient volume of experience in treating rare and complex cancers.
Complex and rare cancers comprise approximately 15 percent of new cancer cases each year, making it difficult for patients to locate or research facilities with oncologic or surgical teams that are experienced in this specialty. The Blue Distinction designation helps identify these institutions.
2008 Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery
Independence Blue Cross has announced AMH’s Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (IMBS) as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. To date, only 221 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation.
IMBS met numerous selection criteria thresholds necessary to be named as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, including: offering a full-service inpatient hospital facility; being fully accredited by The Joint Commission or Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program; performing a required volume of bariatric surgeries during the recent 12-month reporting period; being staffed by an experienced and appropriately credentialed bariatric surgical team; being supported by appropriate equipment and staffing; establishing documented policies and procedures for patient care and follow-up care; demonstrating a commitment to quality improvement, as shown by its ongoing quality management and improvement programs.
"It is a great honor for our team to receive Blue Distinction status, and to be recognized for our work in bariatric surgery," says, Fernando B. Bonanni, Jr., M.D., director, Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. "We are dedicated to providing our patients with a high-quality comprehensive approach to weight loss that features a full range of services, including several of the latest surgical options, ongoing support and counseling, an exercise program, a nutrition plan and a lifetime of follow up care."