Premier Health Hospitals Recognized for Higher Quality and Cost-Efficiency in Maternity Care
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio has recognized Upper Valley Medical Center and Atrium Medical Center with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ (BDC+) for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Miami Valley Hospital’s maternity centers were awarded with a Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care designation as part of the program. In addition, Miami Valley Hospital also earned a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation.
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.
In 2020, the the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program was expanded beyond traditional outcome measures to include assessments of internal quality improvement, data collection and dissemination, and internal protocols that better address clinical quality and equity issues in maternity care. New in the evaluation cycle, facilities must collect race and ethnicity data, have a maternal quality improvement program, commence drills and simulations for adverse events, and have dedicated protocols and procedures for the management of hypertension and hemorrhage. In addition, they must meet clinical outcome metrics at a higher standard than required previously. Facilities eligible for the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity care show statistically significant differences in key clinical outcomes compared to their peers.
Only those health care facilities that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
Back to the February 2021 issue of Premier Pulse
