Pottsown Memorial Medical Center Earns National Recognition for Distinction in Knee and Hip Replacement
Pottstown, PA- May, 2011— Pottstown Memorial Medical Center has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement® from Independence Blue Cross for demonstrating better overall quality of care and patient results in these two specialty procedures.
Blue Distinction® is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery or transplants.
To earn this designation, Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) was evaluated based on an objective, evidence-based selection criteria established with input from expert physicians and medical organizations. The goal of Blue Distinction is to identify medical facilities that deliver better overall quality and medical outcomes for a specific area of specialty care, helping patients and doctors to make more informed hospital choices.
This designation is a tribute to the dedicated team of physicians, nurses, technicians and therapists who helped develop PMMC’s comprehensive programs in knee and hip replacement, said Sharif Omar, Chief Operating Officer “Their clinical expertise in this area of specialty care has resulted in better overall results for our patients.”
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
“The Blue Distinction program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate higher levels of performance in providing better specialty care for patients," said Omar. “Improving quality of care is integral to transforming the healthcare system. Facilities like PMMC are helping the tri-county area achieve this by offering patients safe specialty care delivered by medical teams with expertise.”
About Blue Distinction
Blue Distinction selection criteria cover a broad range of quality measures and are publicly available on www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction. By earning the designation, PMMC has demonstrated:
An established program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures
Appropriate experience of its care team
Full facility accreditation by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-deemed national accreditation organization
Adherence to evidence-based clinical care measures and guidelines
A comprehensive quality management program
“Blue Distinction puts a high value on the consistent delivery of evidence-based care,” said Dr. Allan Korn, chief medical officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). “Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet objective quality criteria and deliver better overall outcomes in specialty patient care.”
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC), a 227-bed, acute care hospital is conveniently located in western Montgomery county just off route 422 at the Armand Hammer Blvd. exit.
The medical staff features 260 physicians and over 40 medical specialties. PMMC offers the latest technology and treatments, a full array of inpatient services, and convenient outpatient locations for ambulatory surgery, rehabilitation, diagnostic services, occupational health services, lab work as well as Coventry, Limerick, Berks & Boyertown Family Care, Berks Medical Associates and Coventry Pediatrics.
Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center has twice received the outstanding achievement award (for the second consecutive time) by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer for its’ Community Cancer Program. Clinical trials and research are done in conjunction with our partner, Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Note: 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; and call your provider before making an appointment, to verify the most current information on its Network participation and Blue Distinction status. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any of its Licensees are responsible for any damages, losses, or non-covered charges that may result from using this resource or receiving care from a Blue Distinction provider.