Blue Care Network of Michigan Acts to Provide High Quality Care for Its Members

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its mission to provide high quality care and services, Blue Care Network of Michigan has designated Centers of Excellence for bariatric surgery and low back pain. The designations were effective Aug. 1.

“The Center of Excellence designation means the facility has demonstrated better outcomes and fewer complications for patients seeking the specialized care the center provides, or that the facility has the infrastructure and processes in place to deliver effective outcomes,” said Douglas R. Woll, M.D., Blue Care Network senior vice president and chief medical officer. “Fewer complications and faster recoveries obviously are of benefit to patients, and also help reduce the overall cost of treatment.”

BCN members seeking bariatric surgery will have six hospitals to choose from. Prior to receiving bariatric surgery, BCN members must receive approval from BCN and meet specific criteria, including participation in a professionally supervised weight loss program for a minimum of one year. Members looking for low back pain treatment will be strongly encouraged to receive care at one of the 61 selected Center of Excellence facilities.

The six hospitals that have earned the Blue Care Network Bariatric Center of Excellence designation include:

   Southeast Michigan – Harper University Hospital, Detroit, and Henry Ford                        Health System, Detroit.   East Michigan – Hurley Medical Center, Flint.   West Michigan – Mercy General Health Partners, Muskegon; Munson Medical                   Center, Traverse City, and Spectrum Health – Blodgett                   Campus, Grand Rapids.   

Requirements for the BCN Bariatric Center of Excellence designation include:

   * The hospital is an acute care inpatient facility that includes intensive     care and emergency room services   * Performance of bariatric surgeries for the most recent 18 to 24-month     period, and an average of over 100 bariatric surgeries annually   * Data management systems, patient education and patient management plans   * A patient follow-up rate of at least 70 percent   

Sixty-one facilities throughout Michigan have been designated as BCN Low Back Pain Centers of Excellence. For a list of all the centers, visit http://www.mibcn.com/coe.

The Low Back Pain Centers of Excellence scored at or above the 80th percentile overall with criteria including:

   * A multidisciplinary approach to treating low back pain   * Evidence-based treatments that have demonstrated improved outcomes for     lower back pain   * A medical director for the facility and physical therapists on-site   * Access to a mental health professional   

BCN will promote the centers to their members, as well as to BCN primary care physicians and specialty physicians involved with low back pain or bariatric care.

The BCN Center of Excellence designation for bariatric surgery and low back pain is for a two-year term. A facility must then reapply to retain its Center of Excellence status.

Blue Care Network of Michigan has more than 475,000 members, award-winning disease management programs and the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 3,500 primary care physicians, 9,500 specialists and 120 hospitals. Blue Care Network is the HMO affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For further information, visit http://www.mibcn.com/.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

CONTACT: Helen Stojic, +1-313-225-8113, or Jon Ogar, +1-517-336-5648,both of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, mediarelations@bcbsm.com

Web site: http://www.bcbsm.com/http://www.mibcn.com/http://www.mibcn.com/coe