St. Bernardine Medical Center Named Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement

St. Bernardine Medical Center has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement by Blue Shield of California. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care. In 2013, the criteria for designation was expanded to include more robust quality measures focused on improved patient health and safety, as well as new cost-efficiency measures. “We are very pleased that our orthopedic services are recognized by one of the largest health care insurers in the country for providing exceptional quality care,” said Steven Barron, Dignity Health senior vice president, Southern California East and president, St. Bernardine Medical Center. “This designation is a tribute to the dedicated nurses, affiliated physicians, physical therapists and support staff who collaborate to provide our patients with the most comprehensive services in knee and hip replacement available,” Barron added. St. Bernardine Medical Center is one of 32 hospitals in California to receive the Blue Distinction Center+ designation for Knee and Hip Replacement. Annually, over 650 patients receive a hip or knee replacement through Orthopedic Services at St. Bernardine. Focusing on positive patient outcomes and surgical experience are the foundation for the hospital’s high standards of care and distinguished performance through its knee and hip replacement services. “As more individuals seek treatment and surgical intervention for knee and hip conditions, it’s important for them to be able to identify facilities that offer expertise in the specialty backed by evidence of exceptional care. Designations such as the Blue Distinction Center+ help them find the facility best suited to their needs,” said Barron. Since 2006, consumers, medical providers and employers have relied on the Blue Distinction program to identify hospitals delivering quality care. The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from the medical community, and include general quality and safety metrics plus program specific metrics. “We’re proud to have met the rigorous selection criteria set by the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program and pleased to provide exceptional orthopedic care through the efforts of a highly competent multidisciplinary team,” added Barron. According to Marcus Thygeson, M.D., senior vice president and chief health officer at Blue Shield, 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. “Blue Shield of California is pleased to recognize the high-quality care that Blue Distinction Centers and their affiliated physicians deliver,” said Thygeson.