Sept. 20, 2010
Cabell Huntington Hospital Has Been Designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery(r)
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield has designated Cabell Huntington Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. To date, more than 230 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation. However, this marks the first time that any West Virginia facility has received this prestigious honor.
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.
"We are very honored to be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery," said Blaine Nease, MD, Surgical Director of the Center for Surgical Weight Control at Cabell Huntington Hospital. "As with all surgical procedures, patients should conduct research and thoroughly educate themselves about all aspects of bariatric surgery when considering it as an option. We believe this Blue Distinction designation is one of many reasons the informed patient should choose Cabell Huntington Hospital for their surgical weight loss needs and that it confirms the quality of care and service we strive to provide our patients."
Cabell Huntington Hospital is a 313-bed academic medical center that provides a full range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up and patient education. Cabell Huntington Hospital is also a designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
"We are pleased to be able to designate Cabell Huntington Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery," said Fred Earley, MSBCBS President. "The commitment and quality of care demonstrated by this hospital in treating patients with obesity issues, is truly an example of the exceptional health care the citizens of West Virginia can feel confident in receiving right here in their own state."
To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, Cabell Huntington Hospital 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.
Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Mountain State provides or administers coverage for more than 540,000 customers, and has over 900 employees in Parkersburg, Charleston, Wheeling and Weirton. To learn more about Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, please visit www.msbcbs.com.
Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means this facility's 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 facility, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.
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Cabell Huntington Hospital Has Been Designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery(r)
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield has designated Cabell Huntington Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. To date, more than 230 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation. However, this marks the first time that any West Virginia facility has received this prestigious honor.
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.
"We are very honored to be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery," said Blaine Nease, MD, Surgical Director of the Center for Surgical Weight Control at Cabell Huntington Hospital. "As with all surgical procedures, patients should conduct research and thoroughly educate themselves about all aspects of bariatric surgery when considering it as an option. We believe this Blue Distinction designation is one of many reasons the informed patient should choose Cabell Huntington Hospital for their surgical weight loss needs and that it confirms the quality of care and service we strive to provide our patients."
Cabell Huntington Hospital is a 313-bed academic medical center that provides a full range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up and patient education. Cabell Huntington Hospital is also a designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
"We are pleased to be able to designate Cabell Huntington Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery," said Fred Earley, MSBCBS President. "The commitment and quality of care demonstrated by this hospital in treating patients with obesity issues, is truly an example of the exceptional health care the citizens of West Virginia can feel confident in receiving right here in their own state."
To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, Cabell Huntington Hospital 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.
Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Mountain State provides or administers coverage for more than 540,000 customers, and has over 900 employees in Parkersburg, Charleston, Wheeling and Weirton. To learn more about Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, please visit www.msbcbs.com.
Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means this facility's 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 facility, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
