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Nash Health Care Designated Blue Distinction Center
07/30/2010
Nash Health Care Has Been
Designated as a Blue Distinction Centerfor Bariatric Surgery®
ROCKY MOUNT, NC - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has designated the Nash Surgical Weight Loss Center of Nash Health Care as a Blue Distinction Centerfor Bariatric Surgery. To date, more than 230 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 bariatric surgeries increased 400 percent from 1998 to 2004. Bariatric surgery may help some individuals reduce extreme obesity and its associated health risks, and Blue Distinction provides objective information to help them make informed decisions when choosing a provider.
“This distinction is a testimony to the dedication to excellence demonstrated every day by our bariatric team,” said Amy Winham, program director for the Nash Surgical Weight Loss Center. “We tailor our continuum of care to serve the individual needs of our patients as well as strive to provide superior quality care throughout their journey.”
The Nash Surgical Weight Loss Center provides a full range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up and patient education. The center sponsors free educational seminars for prospective patients and a surgical weight loss support group for those who have undergone or are considering bariatric surgery.
“Of course, the patients and their success stories provide a unique source of inspiration to the entire staff. We even had one patient who came from Texas to seek care at our facility,” Winham said.
Larry Chewning, president and CEO of Nash Health Care, added, “Eastern North Carolina has some of the highest obesity rankings in the nation, particularly among young people. This is an alarming trend, and as the community health care system, we wanted to provide weight loss surgery services as an option for those who are struggling with health problems that are related to obesity. I’m particularly proud of the physicians, physician assistants, nurses and staff of the Nash Surgical Weight Loss Center for the hard work and effort that resulted in this distinction.”
To hear patient success stories and see before and after photographs, please visit the website www.nashhealthcare.com .
“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.”
To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, the Nash Surgical Weight Loss Center met the selection criteria posted at www.BCBS.com, which, includes:
- · an established bariatric surgery program, actively performing these procedures for the most recent 12-month period and performing a required minimum volume of 125 such surgeries annually
- · appropriate experience of its bariatric surgery team
- · an acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care and emergency services
- · full accreditation by The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) or national equivalent**
- · 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.
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.
About Nash Health Care:
Nash Health Care is a county-owned, not-for-profit health care system comprised of four distinct hospitals on a single campus: Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, and Coastal Plain Hospital.
About BCBSNC:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For over 75 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Access BCBSNC online at www.bcbsnc.com.