The joint replacement center at Nash Health Care was recently designated a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). The Blue Distinction designation is awarded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality health care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants.

This means the Nash Joint Replacement Center has met several criteria demonstrating its ability to provide superior health care services, making it one of an estimated 1,600 centers in the nation to achieve this honor. Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s expansion of its Blue Distinction® designation.

Since its opening in 2007, the Nash Joint Replacement Center has treated 1,200 patients.

“We are very excited about this designation,” said Amy Winham, director of the Nash Joint Replacement Center. “This achievement represents a lot of hard work and dedication to excellence from our employees and physicians. It clearly demonstrates that quality patient care is of paramount importance at our center. It has been so rewarding to see our patients increase their functional mobility and be able to return to successfully performing their daily and leisure activities.”

The Nash Joint Replacement Center is a dedicated center within Nash General Hospital that offers comprehensive knee and hip replacement services. The interdisciplinary team assists patients throughout the entire continuum of care. The experience begins with a preoperative education class to help prepare patients and their family members for surgery. While patients are in the hospital, the joint center staff work together to create a compassionate patient centered experience.

“The team is also dedicated to coordinating the discharge plans and helping to prepare patients for their return home. We also enjoy celebrating the patients’ accomplishments at our quarterly complimentary All-Star reunion luncheons for patients, their families and friends and the joint center staff,” Winham added. “Some patients only have to stay two nights in the hospital after a joint replacement, and many patients are now having the procedure done on Wednesdays.”

“When it comes to hip and knee replacement, there is compelling evidence that institutions with experience that also adhere to their care protocols deliver better outcomes," said Dr. Don Bradley, Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. "We're providing that information to our members to help them make informed choices about where to receive care proven to meet national quality standards."

The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a national panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available at www.bcbs.com:

• Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization
• Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume
• Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care
• Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care
• Shared decision-making and preoperative patient education

Larry Chewning, president and CEO of Nash Health Care, said this honor was another wonderful accolade for the Nash Joint Replacement Center.

“Orthopedic services at Nash Health Care have been ranked among the top ten in North Carolina for the last nine consecutive years,” Chewning said. “This Blue Distinction designation is not only wonderful news for our employees, but it helps assure our community that their local health care system is ready to provide superior quality care close to home.”

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 76 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.

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.