OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center has received a Blue Distinction® Center for Cardiac Care designation by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated providers that meet quality standards and have proven to deliver quality care with safe practices that lead to better health outcomes for patients.
In the United States, one person dies every 34 seconds from a cardiovascular disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care empower patients with the information they need to choose quality, in-network cardiac care. To receive a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care designation, health care facilities must demonstrate expertise in delivering safe and effective cardiac care for:
- Percutaneous coronary interventions
- Coronary artery bypass graft
- Aortic valve replacement
“At OSF Saint Anthony we are proud of the fact that we are constantly evolving to offer the latest and greatest technology available to serve our patients with the greatest care and love,” said Paula Carynski, president of OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center. “This recognition further demonstrates our dedication to providing the safest and best quality care.”
“We are so honored to have been singled out and recognized for the outstanding care that we provide to our patients through the OSF Cardiovascular Institute,” said Dr. Darrel Gumm, vice president of OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Service Line. “We continually strive to achieve our Mission, which is to treat every patient with the greatest care and love.”
Health care facilities recognized as Blue Distinction Centers are assessed using quality information supplied by third-party data registries, which are evaluated based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
“The hospitals that receive this important designation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois demonstrate a strong commitment to quality and performance,” said Dr. Derek Robinson, Chief Medical Officer, BCBSIL. “This recognition shows that our members, employers, providers and communities can count on Blue Distinction Centers for access to health care that helps our members achieve their health goals.”
Nationally, Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care are providing quality care for patients and have lower in-hospital mortality rates and lower bleeding complication rates for angioplasty than non-Blue Distinction Centers. Designated facilities also meet national standards, with patients facing fewer readmissions and mortality rates for coronary artery bypass graft procedures and heart attacks, compared to facilities that do not meet the criteria.
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit www.bcbs.com.