News

November 19, 2015

Ellis Hospital Recognized as a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans

Ellis Hospital has been recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).

Recognition as a Blue Distinction Center for Specialty Care is art of a national designation program that recognizes healthcare facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivering quality specialty care safely, effectively, and cost efficiently.  This network of facilities establishes a nationally consistent and evolving approach to evaluating quality and safety.

“Quality of care and patient safety are our priorities at Ellis Medicine,” said Paul Milton, acting president and CEO, “We continuously work toward improving patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes.  This recognition as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Services is a testament to the entire staff for their tireless and superlative efforts in caring for our patients.”

“We also can attribute our success in cardiac care to our long-term, wonderful partnership with the physicians and staff of Cardiology Associates of Schenectady,” Milton said.

The goal of Blue Distinction is two-fold: to help consumers find both quality and value for their specialty care needs, while encouraging healthcare professionals to continue to evolve the overall quality of care and create a benchmark for a high level of delivery of care nationwide, and to provide a credible foundation for local Blue Plans to design benefits tailored to meet employers’ quality and cost objectives.

Early in 2015, local BCBS plans invited facilities to be considered for the Blue Distinction designations. More than 800 facilities applied for the designation. Facilities were then evaluated on objective, transparent selection criteria with quality, business, and cost of care components.

The Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care determination is based on cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) episodes of care performed at acute care inpatient facilities.

 For more information, please click here for more information about the Blue Distinction program.