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Heart Hospital recognized for quality in cardiac care

Boonville Standard & Newburgh-Chandler Register (IN) - 5/23/2016

Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognized The Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway as a Blue Distinction Center+ in the area of cardiac care as part of the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care Program. The Heart Hospital is the only hospital in Indiana with this designation.

Blue Distinction Centers+ for Cardiac Care are healthcare facilities with demonstrated expertise and a commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients seeking inpatient cardiac care services, including cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass graft surgery).

Blue Distinction Centers+ are also 20 percent more cost-efficient than non-designated facilities.

"The Heart Hospital is very proud to receive this designation by Blue Cross," said Becky Malotte, Executive Director and CNO at The Heart Hospital. "It further demonstrates the recognition of The Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway for the outstanding quality outcomes, safety in patient care, and outstanding patient experience that our physicians and staff work diligently to provide every day."

To receive a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care designation, a hospital must demonstrate success in meeting both general quality and safety criteria (such as preventing hospital-acquired infections) and cardiac-specific quality measures (related to lower rates of complications and death following cardiac surgery; and non-surgical procedures, such as cardiac stent placement) and, additionally, must show better cost efficiency relative to their peers.

Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers' need for affordable healthcare. Each facility's cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com.

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