Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Recognizes East Alabama Health for Demonstrating Quality Cardiac Care
February 13, 2023OPELIKA, Ala. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama announced in January that East Alabama Medical Center has earned designation as a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Cardiac Care, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated providers that have proven to deliver quality care with safe practices that lead to better health outcomes for patients.
“Our cardiac program at East Alabama Medical Center is as strong in 2023 as it has ever been,” states Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health. “To be designated by Blue Cross as one of only eight Blue Distinction Center+ hospitals in Alabama is a true credit to our physicians and staff who strive hard every day to provide high-quality, compassionate health care to our patients. They definitely deserve the recognition.”
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:
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Percutaneous coronary interventions
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Coronary artery bypass graft (open heart surgery)
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Aortic valve replacement
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Mitral valve replacement and repair
Health care facilities recognized as Blue Distinction Centers are assessed using quality information supplied by facilities and third-party data registries, which were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations. Blue Distinction Centers+ have also proven to provide more cost-efficient care and are evaluated using cost measures derived from Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies’ medical claims. Only those health care facilities that first meet the quality measures for Blue Distinction Centers are considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.
Nationally, Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care program for 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 additional 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. In addition to meeting the quality criteria, on average, Blue Distinction Centers+ for Cardiac Care are 21 percent more cost-efficient than their non-Blue Distinction Centers+ peers.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit www.bcbs.com.
For more information regarding the range of cardiovascular care provided by East Alabama Health, please visit here.
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About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A local Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) company may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your local BCBS company. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its local BCBS company. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two local BCBS company’s areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own local BCBS companies decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your local BCBS company and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross Blue Shield Association nor any BCBS company are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.
About East Alabama Health
East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinic and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital with a 26-bed Skilled Nursing Facility, while EAMC-Lanier provides inpatient services as well as a nursing home, an acute rehab unit and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,500 employees and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.