NMC Health is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) with Blue Distinction^® Center+ (BDC+) designation for Knee and Hip Replacements and Blue Distinction Center (BDC) designation for Spine Surgery.

These programs identify hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in patient safety and deliver better health outcomes. Quality assessments are based on objective measures developed from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) partnership with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

“At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, we are incredibly proud of our provider partners for their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care,” said Matt All, president/CEO of BCBSKS. “Each Blue Distinction Center is recognized for meeting rigorous quality standards in spine surgery and knee and hip replacements, ensuring our members and all Kansans receive superior health care.”

These designations are a testament to the rigorous standards met by NMC Health. Designated spine surgery and designated knee and hip replacement facilities deliver high quality care, with an average of:

• 28% fewer readmissions and 29% fewer complications within 90 days after spine surgery
• 21% fewer readmissions and 21% fewer complications within 90 days of knee and hip replacement surgery

Patients treated at designated facilities benefit from the expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications making a positive difference in their overall health journey.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacements and a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery,” said Dr. Charles Craig, Chief Medical Officer at NMC Health. “These designations are a testament to our team’s unwavering dedication to providing exceptional, evidence-based care to our patients. For our community, these distinctions mean that they have access to nationally recognized expertise right here at home, ensuring the highest quality outcomes for complex orthopedic and spine procedures.”

These Blue Distinction Center programs help consumers find both quality and value for their specialty care needs, while also encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall delivery of care nationwide.

Only providers that meet nationally established quality measures will be considered for designation as both a Blue Distinction Center Spine Surgery and a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, which include:

Spine Surgery	Knee and Hip Replacement
Full accreditation by at least one of the national accrediting organizations as either a hospital or ASC	Full accreditation by at least one of national accrediting organizations as either a hospital or ASC
Low complication, mortality, and unplanned readmission rates within 90 days after primary spine surgery	Low complication, mortality, and unplanned readmission rates within 90 days after elective primary total knee and hip replacements
Have enhanced recovery after surgery processes and procedures in place for quality perioperative care	Have enhanced recovery after surgery processes and procedures in place for quality perioperative care
Participation in BCBSKS BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network	Participation in BCBSKS BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network

By meeting these stringent criteria, NMC Health not only highlights its commitment to high quality health care but also commits to remaining at the forefront of advancements in spine surgery and knee and hip replacements.

To further improve patient outcomes and inform treatment strategies in these specialty care areas, BCBSA utilized two robust sources for evidence-based performance measures and patient reported outcome measures: the American Spine Registry—a joint effort between the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and AAOS—and the American Joint Replacement Registry.

Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care—and, for those that meet the program’s cost criteria, at lower costs—in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the quality of care they deliver.