Surgery Center Cedar Rapids has received a Blue Distinction Center designation from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield for meeting quality benchmarks in knee and hip replacement procedures.
Designated knee and hip replacement facilities experience 21% fewer complications and readmissions within three months of surgery compared to non-designated facilities, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield Association data.
Elly Steffen, Surgery Center Cedar Rapids’s executive director, attributed its designation to its partnership with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa orthopedic surgeons to provide same-day joint replacement procedures incorporating robotic surgical technology.
“Together we are leading the way with innovative and exceptional care for outpatient surgeries in our community,” she said, in a press release.
The national accreditation program evaluates medical facilities using performance metrics developed with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Centers must prove they maintain low mortality rates, follow enhanced recovery protocols, participate in Wellmark’s BlueCard PPO network and hold accreditation from recognized health care oversight organizations.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association launched the specialty care recognition program in 2005 to help patients find high-performing medical providers. The program now covers 10 specialty areas ranging from cancer treatment to organ transplants.
The association tracks patient outcomes using data from the AAOS and American Joint Replacement Registry to ensure designated centers continue meeting quality benchmarks.
Surgery Center Cedar Rapids employs more than 90 clinical and administrative staff members, including registered nurses, certified surgical technicians and certified sterilization personnel. The Center also has more than 140 specialized physicians on medical staff.
