RUTLAND—Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Vermont has announced that Rutland Regional Medical Center is one of over 280 hospitals to receive the Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care designation, a new designation under the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care, an expansion of the national Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, recognizes hospitals for delivering quality specialty care safely and effectively, based on objective measures a combination of publicly available quality information and cost measures derived from BCBS companies’ medical claims..
This new program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures, including the percentage of newborns that fall into the category of early elective delivery, an ongoing concern in the medical community. Compared with babies born 39 weeks or later, early term infants face higher risks of infant death and respiratory ailments such as respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. These babies also have a higher rate of admission to neonatal intensive care units.
In addition, hospitals that receive the designation agree to support evidence-based practices of care. The hospitals also host programs to promote successful breastfeeding, as described in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by Baby-Friendly USA or the Mother-Friendly Hospital program by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) through its “Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care.” The program also evaluates hospitals on overall patient satisfaction, including a willingness to recommend the hospital to others.
“This designation is a direct result of the efforts of all the dedicated and caring employees and medical staff at Rutland Regional who make the delivery of quality care for women possible,” said Tom Huebner, president and CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center. “We are honored to be recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield for our efforts to continually improve on our high standards of care.”
“We are pleased to recognize Rutland Regional Medical Center for earning designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care,” said Dr. Robert Wheeler, vice president and chief medical officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. “Rutland Regional’s dedication to excellent clinical care and effectively connecting with community resources helps improve health outcomes.”
Wheeler also noted the rigorous standards that Rutland Regional had to meet in order to receive this recognition. “Designation as a Blue Distinction Center requires meeting or exceeding national quality standards over a significant number of cases. Evidence-based measures include minimizing early elective deliveries and achieving high patient satisfaction, for example. This award is based on Rutland Regional’s consistent, objectively measured excellence in maternity care, with a track record of delivering better results than many peer facilities across the country.”
For more information about the program, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
