BLUE DISTINCTION CRITERIAFor knee and hip replacements, criteria include the experience and training of program surgeons and case volume, quality management programs such as surgical checklists and preoperative patient education. In cardiac care, criteria include meeting required annual volumes for certain procedures, subspecialty certification for interventional cardiologists and low overall complication and mortality rates.
Local hospitals recently have been recognized by the state's largest health insurer as top performers in some specialty areas.
Memorial and Erlanger hospitals have been named Blue Distinction Centers for cardiac care by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Parkridge Medical Center has been named a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacements.
Erlanger also recently was certified as a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, while Memorial received the designation for bariatric and spine surgeries.
"Earning these distinctions in the delivery of both cardiac and orthopedic services enables area residents and physicians to see that Erlanger has not only met objective criteria that demonstrate our quality of care, but also produce better outcomes for our patients," said Erlanger president and CEO Jim Brexler in an e-mailed statement.
The distinction, which must be re-awarded every two years to remain up to date, is based on criteria established by physicians, according to the BlueCross and BlueShield Association.
"This designation reflects our hospital's outstanding commitment to quality patient care and outcomes," said Parkridge President and CEO Darrell Moore.
Parkridge's knee and hip replacement services include partial knee replacement, anterior approach hip replacement, hip resurfacing and complex revision surgery, which are minimally invasive procedures.
Jim Hobson, president and CEO of Memorial Health Care System, said in a release that the designation is a reflection of providers' dedication.
"Memorial has an outstanding cardiac team dedicated to delivering the highest quality, full-service care to our patients," he said.