Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana has designated Porter’s Valparaiso Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care. To date, more than 400 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care designation.
The need for quality cardiac care is urgent: The American Heart Association estimates that this year alone, 1.2 million Americans will experience a first or recurrent heart attack.
Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care demonstrate their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Porter’s Valparaiso Hospital meets evidence-based clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations, including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and is subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continue to evolve.*
“This highly sought after distinction from Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a great accolade for our Cardiac & Vascular Institute,” stated Jonathan Nalli, CEO, Porter Health System. “This distinction is only given to facilities that meet the highest clinical standards developed in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations like the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.”
“Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidenced-based health and medical information,” says David Lee, M.D., vice president of health care management for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana. “We are committed to working with doctors and hospitals across the state who demonstrate quality patient care.”
To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, Porter Hospital met the selection criteria posted at www.BCBS.com, which includes:
- an established cardiac care program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures (e.g. a minimum of 125 cardiac surgical procedures annually, including both CABG and/or valve surgery)
- appropriate experience of its cardiac team, including sub-specialty board certification for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons
- an established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency and a full range of cardiac services
- full accreditation by The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) or national equivalent**
- low overall complication and mortality rates
- a comprehensive quality management program Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations’ recommendations. Today, more than 800 Blue Distinction Center designations have been awarded to facilities nationwide, providing consumers with a framework for making informed decisions on where to go for specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, and transplants.
These organizations have provided information and input, but do not formally endorse the Blue Distinction Centers program.
** At the discretion of the local BCBS Plan and under a specified contingency process, a facility that provides the full range of cardiac services but does not provide on-site coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery may be considered for Blue Distinction designation if it is part of a cooperative system with a qualifying facility that provides emergency backup CABG for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and meets our contingency criteria. Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care without on-site CABG will be differentiated from full-service Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care in program listings.
Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities' overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians' and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at www.anthem.com.