CHI Memorial Earns Blue Distinction® Center+ Designation for Cardiac Care

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee designated the cardiac care program at CHI Memorial, Chattanooga, as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Cardiac Care, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are proven to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community.

To receive a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care designation, a hospital must demonstrate its expertise, focusing on cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI); and have national accreditation at the facility level. In addition to meeting established quality thresholds, these hospitals must also demonstrate better cost efficiency compared to their peers. Quality is key: only facilities that first meet nationally established quality measures for Blue Distinction Centers are considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.

Research shows that facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients compared with their peers. On average, facilities designated as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care are 20% more cost efficient in an episode of care compared to non-Blue Distinction Center+ health care facilities.