Meadville, PA - Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has recognized Meadville
Medical Center (MMC) with a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity
Care designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show
expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes,
based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical
community.
Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth
the most common cause of hospitalization, and cesarean sections the most
common operating room procedures, according to National Center for Health
Statistics and the Agency for Health Care Research & Quality (AHRQ).
Reducing early elective delivery is an area of focus for the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP). According to Health Affairs, elective inductions
result in more cesarean deliveries and a longer maternal hospitalization.
The Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals
on quality measures for vaginal and cesarean delivery. To receive a Blue
Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, a hospital must also
demonstrate cost-efficiency.
Quality is key: only those hospitals that first meet Blue Distinction's
nationally-established, objective quality measures will be considered
for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.
MMC is proud to be recognized by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for meeting
the rigorous Blue Distinction Center+ quality and cost selection criteria
for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
"We will continue to provide exceptional and compassionate maternity
care to fulfill the needs and preferences of our expectant mothers,"
noted Denise Johnson, Chief Medical Officer. "Our dedicated physicians
and staff work diligently every day to place every patient and family
first. We are deeply committed to ensuring the best care for our community."
"The Blue Distinction program gives Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
members the ability to choose their Providers based upon reliable quality
and safety information. It also provides a pathway for exceptional Providers
to demonstrate their value, and delivers the kind of transparency necessary
for members to make informed value-driven healthcare decisions. We congratulate
our Blue Distinction Specialty Care Providers on their accomplishment
and thank our members for choosing Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,"
said Dr. Charles DeShazer, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized
more than 1,000 hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care.
Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination
of quality information supplied by hospitals and cost measures derived
from BCBS companies' medical claims.
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients
find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer
care, cardiac care, maternity care, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery,
and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve
the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other hospitals,
those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality
and improved outcomes for patients. On average, Blue Distinction Centers+
are also 20 percent more cost-efficient than non-Blue Distinction Center+
designated hospitals.
For more information about the program and for a complete listiing of
the designated facilities, please
visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.