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Thirteen Michigan Hospitals Named Cardiac Centers of Excellence By Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network

Posted on: Monday, 9 October 2006, 09:01 CDT

DETROIT, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirteen Michigan hospitals have been designated as Cardiac Centers of Excellence by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. The designation means the hospitals meet strict quality criteria as established by physician panels and national organizations.

"The 13 Cardiac Centers of Excellence stand out as consistently performing at an exemplary level on a wide range of measures and in their commitment to continually assessing and improving the quality of care they provide," said David Share, M.D., M.P.H., senior associate medical director of health care quality for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

"The Center of Excellence designation indicates to our physicians and members that the facility has demonstrated superior outcomes and fewer complications for patients seeking the specialized care it provides," said Douglas R. Woll, M.D., Blue Care Network senior vice president and chief medical officer.

The 13 hospitals are:

Southeast Michigan - Henry Ford Health System, Detroit; Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield; St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit; St. John Hospital Macomb Center, Warren; St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor; St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac; University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor; and William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

East and Mid-Michigan - Genesys Regional Medical Center, Grand Blanc; Ingham Regional Medical Center, Lansing; and McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint.

West Michigan - Mercy General Health Partners, Muskegon; and Spectrum Health - Butterworth Campus, Grand Rapids.

The Cardiac Center of Excellence designation requires that each facility: * Shows at least three years of experience in a full range of cardiac services * Performs at least 150 open heart surgeries, 400 angioplasties and 500 cardiac catherizations annually * Monitors its performance and is committed to continuous quality improvement * Exhibits successful cardiac outcomes such as lower rates of complications, readmissions and deaths * Employs cardiac care staff members who meet appropriate credentialing criteria

The Blues first designated Cardiac Centers of Excellence in 1996. The centers are subject to periodic re-evaluations as criteria change with advancements in medicine. The designation is for a two-year term. A facility must reapply to retain its status.

The 13 Michigan Cardiac Centers of Excellence also have been named as Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care(SM) by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Blue Distinction is the association's nationwide program that strives to engage members to make informed health care decisions and collaborate with providers to improve quality outcomes and affordability of care.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation, provides or administers health care benefits to just over 4.7 million members through a variety of plans: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue PPOs; Blue Choice Point of Service; Blue Care Network HMO, and Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more corporate information, visit http://www.bcbsm.com/ .

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

CONTACT: Helen Stojic, +1-313-225-8113, or Linda Lyles Daniels,+1-313-225-8121, both of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

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

Source: PRNewswire

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