Central Maine Medical Center Designated as Blue Distinction Center of Excellence

S. PORTLAND, Maine, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Citing clinical expertise and quality of care, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine has designated Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement(SM).  

"Providers who achieve this certification as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate a true expertise in quality specialty care," said Jeffrey Holmstrom, D.O., medical director, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine.  "This results in better outcomes for patients."  

Dr. Holmstrom added that the designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physician and medical organization recommendations.  

"This recognition is a tribute to the extraordinary capabilities of our caring staff," said CMMC President Laird P. Covey. "They come to work each day with a singular focus on continuously improving the care provided to our patients in need of knee and hip replacement surgeries."

To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, CMMC was evaluated on the following criteria:

• 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.

"A large part of our mission is to work in close collaboration with hospitals and providers across Maine to help improve the quality of care delivered to our members," said Colin McHugh, vice president, provider engagement and contracting at Anthem. "We're sharing the news of this designation with our members so that those whose benefits plans include coverage for these services have the information they need to make important health care decisions for themselves and their family members."

Additional information about the selection criteria is available at www.bcbs.com.

"We are extremely proud of this achievement," said orthopaedic surgeon Jeffrey Bush, M.D., medical director of CMMC's Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine, a joint venture with Central Maine Orthopaedics, a surgical practice with offices in Auburn. "The comprehensive care that our patients receive is delivered through a truly collaborative model which includes our entire team, physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, case managers, and anesthesiologists- all working with the same purpose."

About Central Maine Medical Center

Central Maine Medical Center, located in Lewiston, is a resource hospital for healthcare providers in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties and the surrounding region. CMMC's "Centers of Excellence" include the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, the Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit, a Trauma Services Program, and the Orthopaedics Institute of Central Maine. CMMC is also the southern Maine base for LifeFlight of Maine, the state's only medical helicopter service.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.   Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.  

About Blue Distinction Centers

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.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine