Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has recognized three Bon Secours hospitals in Hampton Roads as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program: Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center and Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital as Blue Distinction® Centers+ for Knee and Hip Replacement; Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital as a Blue Distinction® Center for Spine Surgery; and Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center as a Blue Distinction® Center for Spine Surgery and a Blue Distinction® Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Blue Distinction Centers® are nationally designated health care facilities that show a commitment to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
“We are thrilled to see three of our hospitals receive the Blue Distinction awards for knee and hip replacement, and surgery,” said Amy Carrier, president, Bon Secours – Hampton Roads. “Our teams at Mary Immaculate Hospital, DePaul Medical Center and Maryview Medical Center are committed to providing the highest quality of care, and we look forward to continuing to serve our patients in the Hampton Roads community.”
Spinal surgeries are one of the most frequent types of elective surgeries in the U.S. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, (AHRQ), there were more than 463,000 spinal fusion operations conducted in the U.S. in 2014, a procedure commonly done in the lumbar region of the lower back to treat back pain. Hospital costs for a fusion procedure average $28,9001, according to AHRQ.
Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers® for Spine Surgery demonstrate expertise in cervical and lumbar fusion, cervical laminectomy and lumbar laminectomy/discectomy procedures, resulting in fewer patient complications and readmissions compared to other hospitals. All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation.
Knee and hip replacement procedures remain some of the most commonly performed, elective surgical procedures in the U.S., according to a 2018 study released by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In 2014 there were 370,770 total hip replacements and 680,150 total knee replacements.
Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers® for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Designated facilities include hospitals (with and without an onsite Intensive Care Unit) and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC). All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation, and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification.
“Congratulations to Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center and Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center for receiving these prestigious Blue Distinction honors,” said Maureen Dempsey, M.D., senior clinical officer, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “We commend Bon Secours for committing to delivering quality health care in the spine surgery and knee and hip replacement surgery services.”
The Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery and transplants. Research for many of these programs shows that, compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate high-quality and improved outcomes for patients.