Providence Hospitals Designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care®
May 27, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – May 27, 2009 – – BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has designated Providence Hospitals as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care. To date, more than 400 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care designation.
The need for quality cardiac care is urgent: The American Heart Association estimates that this year alone, 1.2 million Americans will experience a first or recurrent heart attack.
Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care demonstrate their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Providence Hospitals meet evidence-based clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations, including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and is subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continue to evolve.*
Providence Hospitals’ President & CEO George Zara believes this designation is a testament to the excellent care the hospitals provides. “Providence is a health care leader in the Midlands community and we strive to offer the latest in new technology and cardiac procedures. Becoming a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care is consistent with our commitment to remain an outstanding facility with quality outcomes.”
Providence Heart & Vascular Institute is a nationally recognized referral center for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Often called “South Carolina’s Heart Hospital,” Providence has conducted more cardiovascular procedures since opening in 1974 than any other medical team in the state. Providence offers comprehensive cardiac care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
“Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidence-based health and medical information,” says BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Little. “Blue Distinction Centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care. We welcome Providence Hospitals’ designation into the program.”
To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, Providence Hospitals met the selection criteria posted at www.BCBS.com, which includes:
- an established cardiac care program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures (e.g. a minimum of 125 cardiac surgical procedures annually, including both CABG and/or valve surgery)
- appropriate experience of its cardiac team, including sub-specialty board certification for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons
- an established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency and a full range of cardiac services
- full accreditation by The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) or national equivalent**
- low overall complication and mortality rates
- a comprehensive quality management program
Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations’ recommendations. Today, more than 800 Blue Distinction Center designations have been awarded to facilities nationwide, providing consumers with a framework for making informed decisions on where to go for specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, and transplants.
About Providence Hospitals
Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Health System, Providence Hospitals was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1938 and is known statewide for its compassionate care. This non-profit organization is licensed for 304 beds at its downtown and Northeast facilities and employs more than 1,900 caring individuals. Providence Heart & Vascular Institute recently received full Cycle II accreditation with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from the Society of Chest Pain Centers and holds several national rankings for quality outcomes by the Society for Thoracic Surgeons, and the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease program. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina recently designated Providence Heart & Vascular Institute as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, signifying Providence’s commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Learn more at www.providencehospitals.com.
About BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (www.SouthCarolinaBlues.com) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and its family of companies include more than 20 subsidiaries involved in health insurance services, the U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, and other insurance and employee benefits services
* These organizations have provided information and input, but do not formally endorse the Blue Distinction Centers program.
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.
