Pardee Hospital Earns Blue Distinction® Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement 

From a press release:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has selected Pardee Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement surgeries, 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.

Knee and hip replacement procedures are among the fastest growing medical treatments in the U.S., according to studies published in the June 2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery1 and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons2.

In 2010, the estimated cost of hip replacements averaged $17,500 and the estimated cost of knee replacements averaged $16,000, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)3.

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. 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 those facilities that first meet nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.

Pardee Hospital is proud to be recognized by BCBSNC for meeting the robust selection criteria for knee and hip replacements set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

“At Pardee Hospital, our orthopedic surgeons and staff work diligently to provide the highest quality in hip and knee replacement procedures, patient safety, cost effectiveness and patient outcomes,” said James M. Kirby, II, president and CEO of Pardee Hospital. “In our growing community, hip and knee replacements are becoming more common as the population ages and we are here to provide patients the services and support they need to regain their quality of life.”

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.

“We’re doing the homework for our customers by putting a spotlight on hospitals and facilities that offer high quality services at a fair price.” said Dr. Brian Caveney, chief medical officer of BCBSNC. “With health care costs continuing to rise, patients want to know how much value they are getting for their health care dollar. Identifying which providers meet or exceed industry standards is an important part of that equation.”

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

Pardee Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is managed by UNC Health Care. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. The hospital has several locations separate from the main campus and a comprehensive physician practice network. For more information or to find a physician, visit pardeehospital.org.