|
Setting the Gold Standard for Patient Care
Blue Distinction Centers® are facilities recognized by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association for their distinguished clinical care.
“Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin is the only hospital in Wisconsin with six Blue Distinction Centers,” said Ron Nakamura, director of managed care contracting for Froedtert & Community Health. The six centers cover bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, spinal surgery and transplants.
“Blue Distinction Center designations demonstrate quality and effectiveness as determined by a third party that uses objective and clinical criteria to assess our facilities,” Nakamura said. “Blue Cross Blue Shield verifies our data and compares it against publicly available data. The designations demonstrate our commitment to quality and patient safety.”
“The centers must also offer a comprehensive array of services, from pre-operation education through ensuring patients have post-operative physical therapy appointments scheduled,” said Patricia Kokta, program director of orthopaedic surgery for Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin.
“As a patient, you want a center with the highest volume of patients and the best outcomes,” Nakamura said. “Patients would rather see surgeons who perform numerous orthopaedic surgeries each day than those who perform five a year.”
“The spinal surgery and knee and hip replacement centers represent Froedtert & The Medical College’s two newest designees,” Kokta said. “They’re among select organizations in the country that meet these stringent parameters.”
Source: Froedtert Today Date: May 2010 Online Editor(s): Robin Schultz |