Methodist Hospital designated as a Blue Distinction Center
Blue Shield of California has designated Methodist Hospital of Sacramento as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Methodist Hospital is one of only two hospitals in Sacramento to receive such an honor and among 37 hospitals at this time throughout California.
Methodist Hospital offers comprehensive knee and hip replacement services, including custom-fit, minimally invasive surgical techniques, extensive pre-operative education and progressive rehabilitation protocols including ambulation on day of surgery and group therapy.
"Our team at Methodist Hospital is committed to providing the most innovative and high quality orthopedic care for our patients," says Hospital President and Service Area President Tim Moran. "We take pride in being one of the top providers for orthopedics in Sacramento."
"Blue Distinction Centers set themselves apart by adhering to best practices in patient safety and surgical care and producing consistently strong outcomes with fewer complications," says Michael-Anne Browne, M.D., medical director for quality at Blue Shield of California. "Blue Shield of California is pleased to recognize the superior care that this hospital and physicians deliver."
"Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidence-based health and medical information," says Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Chief Medical Officer. "Blue Distinction Centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care."
Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for knee and hip replacement care. Methodist Hospital meets evidence-based clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with a panel of expert physicians and medical organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and is subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continue to evolve.
To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available on bcbs.com:
- Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization
- Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume
- Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care
- Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care
- Shared decision making and preoperative patient education
Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants. The program is part of The Blues® efforts to collaborate with physicians and medical facilities to improve the overall quality and safety of specialty care. The additional Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement designations will bring the national number of Blue Distinction designations to more than 1,600 - and this number is expected to increase in the coming years.
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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.
About Methodist Hospital
Established in 1973, Methodist Hospital is a full-service community hospital committed to providing excellence in healthcare for residents living in Sacramento's southern suburbs, including Laguna, Elk Grove and Galt. Methodist Hospital is part of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) - the largest Catholic healthcare system based in the western United States, with hospitals and medical groups in California, Arizona and Nevada. In the Sacramento area, CHW operates Mercy General Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Folsom, Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Woodland Healthcare and Mercy Medical Group (a service of CHW Medical Foundation). CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare services with special attention to the poor and underserved.
Background on Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health plan dedicated to providing Californians with access to high quality care at a reasonable price. Founded in 1939, it now has 3.4 million members, 4,800 employees, one of the largest provider networks and more than 20 office locations, providing a wide range of commercial and government products throughout the state. The company has contributed $100 million over the past three years to the Blue Shield of California Foundation to fund nonprofit organizations that improve access to quality health care in California. Contact your local agent or broker for more information about Blue Shield products and services, or visit the Blue Shield web site at
blueshieldca.com.
