Falmouth Hospital Designated as BCBS Knee and Hip Replacement Center

(Falmouth February 2, 2010) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts has recognized Falmouth Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement ^SM. The designation is given to “leading institutions that meet clinically-validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care,” according to Dr. Allan Korn, Chief Medical Officer of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

The program is part of a BCBSMA effort to collaborate with physicians and medical facilities to improve the overall quality and safety of specialty care.

“We are delighted to accept this designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts,” said Falmouth Hospital Chief Operating Officer Sue Wing. “It acknowledges the great care delivered throughout the hospital by our physicians and staff.”

The addition of the Falmouth Hospital Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement brings the nation’s number of Blue Distinction SM designations to more than 1,600.

“Improving quality of care is integral to transforming the health care system,” said Dr. John Fallon, Chief Physician Executive at BCBSMA. “Facilities like Falmouth Hospital are helping Massachusetts achieve this by ensuring patients receive the safest, most effective specialty care.”

The selection criteria used in designating the Centers for Knee and Hip replacement were developed in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations. Selection criteria included:

• An established knee and hip replacement program performing required annual volumes.
• An experienced knee and hip replacement surgical team.
• Full accreditation by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-deemed organization.
• A comprehensive quality management program.
• Clinical outcomes that meet objective thresholds for specific procedures, such as complication rates and lengths of stay.

The goal of the Blue Distinction program is to give consumers in need of specialty care credible information to make more effective health care decisions. The program examines evidence-based quality measures, processes and outcomes for clinical care.

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.