Wellmark recognizes two facilities for demonstrating quality care in knee and hip replacement
DES MOINES, Iowa — Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has recognized two health care facilities as part of the Blue Distinction® Centers for Specialty Care program in the area of knee and hip replacement. These noteworthy facilities have been designated as either a Blue Distinction® Center, for delivering quality care resulting in better overall outcomes for patients, or as Blue Distinction® Centers+, for delivering the same quality care as Blue Distinction Centers while also meeting key requirements for cost efficiency.
- Crow Valley Surgery Center, Bettendorf, Iowa – Blue Distinction Center+
- Ankeny Medical Park Surgery Center, Ankeny, Iowa – Blue Distinction Center
Blue Distinction Centers® are nationally designated health care facilities that show expertise in delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
Facilities 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 readmissions.
Designated facilities include hospitals (with and without an onsite Intensive Care Unit) and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC). All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation, and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification.
Knee and hip replacement procedures remain some of the most commonly performed, elective surgical procedures in the U.S., according to a 2018 study released by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons External Link. In 2014 there were 370,770 total hip replacements and 680,150 total knee replacements1.
The Blue Distinction Specialty Care program remains a trusted and valuable source for patients seeking quality 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.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction External Link.
