Bayhealth Receives Blue Distinction for Maternity Care
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware has recognized Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus with a Blue Distinction® Center+ and Bayhealth Milford Memorial with a Blue Distinction® Center designation for Maternity Care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on quality measures for vaginal and cesarean delivery. Only those hospitals that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally-established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+, which Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus received.
“We are committed to providing the safest care and best quality outcomes, and to keeping the consumers’ need for affordable care in mind as well,” said Bayhealth Women’s and Children’s Services Senior Director Ronnie Kopec, RN, MS, NE-BC.
Bayhealth is proud to be recognized by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware for meeting the rigorous Blue Distinction Center quality selection criteria for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination of quality information and cost measures derived from Blue Cross Blue Shield companies’ medical claims.
“The Blue Distinction program gives Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware members the ability to choose their providers based upon reliable quality and safety information. It also provides a pathway for exceptional providers to demonstrate their value, and delivers the kind of transparency necessary for members to make informed value-driven healthcare decisions. We congratulate our Blue Distinction Specialty Care Providers on their accomplishment and thank our members for choosing Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware,” said Dr. Charles DeShazer, senior vice president and chief medical officer, Highmark Health.
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, maternity care, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other hospitals, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.
To date, Bayhealth has received Blue Distinction designations for cardiac care, bariatric surgery and maternity care.
Visit Bcbs.com/BlueDistinction for more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities. Visit Bayhealth.org/Maternity-Obstetrics to learn more about maternity care and services provided at Bayhealth.
