Mercy Health — Springfield Regional Medical Center’s Family Birthing Center Earns National Recognition
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio has recognized the Family Birthing Center at Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Hospital with a Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals that have earned national designation for showing expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community.
“There are few things more special than welcoming a new baby. Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Center’s Family Birthing Center team is dedicated to providing your family with high quality maternity services in a warm and caring setting,” said Mercy Health – Springfield Interim President Adam Groshans. “We are proud that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio has recognized the work we put in to meet rigorous Blue Distinction Center quality selection criteria for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.”
Nearly four million babies are born in the US annually. This makes childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization and cesarean sections the most common operating room procedure, according to National Centers for Health Statistics and the Agency for Health care Research & Quality (AHRQ).
Reducing early elective delivery is an area of focus for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). According to Health Affairs, elective inductions result in more cesarean deliveries and a longer maternal hospitalization. The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on quality measures for vaginal and cesarean delivery.
“Mercy Health - Springfield’s designation as a Blue Distinction Center is a testament to its commitment to maternity care and patient experience,” said Dr. Barry Malinowski, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio medical director. “The Blue Distinction program is designed to recognize commitment to quality and to help consumers identify high performing health care providers. This is a well-deserved honor and I congratulate the entire team at Mercy Health - Springfield.”
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized more than 1,000 hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care. Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination of quality information supplied by hospitals and cost measures derived from BCBS companies’ medical claims.
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, maternity care, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other hospitals, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals that have earned national designation for showing expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community.
“There are few things more special than welcoming a new baby. Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Center’s Family Birthing Center team is dedicated to providing your family with high quality maternity services in a warm and caring setting,” said Mercy Health – Springfield Interim President Adam Groshans. “We are proud that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio has recognized the work we put in to meet rigorous Blue Distinction Center quality selection criteria for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.”
Nearly four million babies are born in the US annually. This makes childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization and cesarean sections the most common operating room procedure, according to National Centers for Health Statistics and the Agency for Health care Research & Quality (AHRQ).
Reducing early elective delivery is an area of focus for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). According to Health Affairs, elective inductions result in more cesarean deliveries and a longer maternal hospitalization. The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on quality measures for vaginal and cesarean delivery.
“Mercy Health - Springfield’s designation as a Blue Distinction Center is a testament to its commitment to maternity care and patient experience,” said Dr. Barry Malinowski, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio medical director. “The Blue Distinction program is designed to recognize commitment to quality and to help consumers identify high performing health care providers. This is a well-deserved honor and I congratulate the entire team at Mercy Health - Springfield.”
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized more than 1,000 hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care. Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination of quality information supplied by hospitals and cost measures derived from BCBS companies’ medical claims.
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, maternity care, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other hospitals, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.