Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana has selected Northwest Health – Porter as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.
Spinal surgeries are among the most common and expensive elective surgeries in the U.S., according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which creates a significant opportunity for hospitals to improve quality and value within the healthcare system.
As a Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery, Northwest Health demonstrated expertise in cervical and lumbar fusion, cervical laminectomy and lumbar laminectomy/discectomy procedures, and has fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions compared to other hospitals. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation. In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other hospitals. Quality is key: only hospitals that first meet nationally established, objective quality measures are considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center.
“This designation not only recognizes Northwest Health – Porter for its continuous commitment to quality outcomes, but also recognizes our top quality care for patients who require spine surgery,” said James Leonard, DO, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Northwest Health – Porter. “We are fortunate to have excellent spine surgeons on our medical staff. Their skills and knowledge have been instrumental in achieving honors like this one from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs. Northwest Health also holds Blue Distinction honors for hip and knee surgery, maternity care and cardiac care.
For more information about the Northwest Health spinal surgery program, visit NWHealthIN.com.
About Northwest Health
Northwest Health is a comprehensive healthcare system committed to providing communities in Northwest Indiana with high-quality, accessible healthcare—from highly specialized care and surgical services to more routine primary care. The system of more than 60 access points includes three hospitals, five emergency departments, urgent care centers, outpatient surgery centers, an ambulance service, and physician offices. A team of more than 3,000 employees work together with the more than 700 physicians on its medical staffs. For more information, visit NWHealthIN.com.
