Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s nationwide distinction highlights Mercy’s unprecedented level of care
Miami, FL (March 27, 2007) – Blue Cross and Blue Shield recently named Mercy Hospital a “Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care.” The distinction defines Mercy Hospital as a facility that meets strict quality criteria established by expert physician panels and national organizations. As such, the hospital is further recognized for demonstrating better outcomes and consistency of care and, in turn, providing greater value for Blue members.
Blue Distinction Centers were created by Blue Cross and Blue Shield to assist patients, families and physicians in making sound, educated decisions in choosing a high-quality care center. The Blue Distinction Centers are noted for having well-integrated programs that help promote patient safety and provide cross functional team support to patients.
“This designation is indicative of the superior efforts of all who provide care at The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital, one of the hospital’s most important Centers of Excellence,” said John Matuska, CEO of Mercy Hospital. “We remain committed to delivering complete quality in cardiac care as well as providing better overall outcomes for all our heart patients.”
Selection criteria used to evaluate the heart center were developed with the objective of improving overall patient outcomes and delivering better value. Criteria categories included full service, accredited inpatient hospital facility; requirement for volume of percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass graft surgeries; sub-specialty board certification of cardiac team; ongoing quality management and improvement programs in place; and evaluation of cardiac care processes and outcomes for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass graft surgery including evaluation of complication and mortality rates.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield anticipates that encouraging members to seek care from designated ‘Blue Distinction Centers’ will improve overall outcomes and affordability, through delivering better value to members.
The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital provides a full range of cardiac services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery.
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Mercy Hospital, a recipient of the prestigious Magnet™ award for nursing excellence, is Miami-Dade’s only Catholic Hospital. Established in 1950, it is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph and a member of Catholic Health East. A 483-bed acute care hospital, staffed by over 700 physicians representing 27 medical specialties, its Centers of Excellence include: The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital, the Miami Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital, the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, and the Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute at Mercy Hospital. Mercy Hospital is located at 3663 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL.
For more information contact:
Arianne Rey
(305) 860-4634
