Cincinnati - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio has designated The Jewish Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. To date, more than 200 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation.
Obesity is widely recognized as a contributor to serious health risks. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the total number of Americans having weight-loss surgery more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002, from 13,386 to 71,733. Part of the increase was driven by a 900 percent rise in surgeries on patients between the ages of 55 and 64. Blue Distinction provides objective information to help patients make informed decisions when choosing a provider.
"For six years, The Weight Management Center of The Jewish Hospital has offered weight loss surgery options to patients. It is rewarding to see Anthem recognize and applaud the high quality care we offer patients. These surgical weight loss options are proven to be safe and effective tools to cure diabetes, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea and hypertension. This recognition by Anthem confirms what we and our patients already know," said Elliott Fegelman, M.D., director of surgery at The Jewish Hospital.
The Jewish Hospital provides a full range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up and patient education.
"Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidence-based health and medical information," says Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Chief Medical Officer. "Blue Distinction Centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care."
Jewish Hospital met numerous selection criteria thresholds necessary to be named as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, including:
- offering a full-service inpatient hospital facility
-being fully accredited by The Joint Commission or Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program
- performing a required volume of bariatric surgeries during the recent 12 month reporting period
- being staffed by an experienced and appropriately credentialed bariatric surgical team
- being supported by appropriate equipment and staffing
- establishing documented policies and procedures for patient care and follow-up care
-demonstrating a commitment to quality improvement, as demonstrated by its ongoing quality management and improvement programs.
The full list of Blue Distinction selection criteria is available to the public at www.BCBS.com/bluedistinction. 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 leading clinicians, medical societies and professional organizations. 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.
The Jewish Hospital is an acute care hospital located in Cincinnati's northeast suburbs. It was established in 1850 as the first Jewish hospital in the United States and is part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system. To view other Jewish Hospital news releases, go to www.jewishhospitalcincinnati.com.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross 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 and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is available at www.anthem.com.
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.
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