MidMichigan Receives Blue Distinction Center+ Designation
For Spine Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement

MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland has been designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement.

The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care® program is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have met overall quality measures for patient safety, outcomes and cost efficiency.

“Our surgeons and their teams earned this recognition by adhering to rigorous quality measures and obtaining positive patient outcomes,” said Shelli Wood, R.N., vice president and chief nursing officer of MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland. “This distinction means that patients who need spine, hip and knee surgery can feel confident in choosing MidMichigan.”

Hip and knee surgeries at MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland include total hip and knee replacements, partial knee replacements and unicompartmental knee replacements. The Medical Center’s Joint Camp program for hip, knee and shoulder replacement promotes faster recovery times, higher patient satisfaction, improved clinical outcomes and lower risk of infection.

The Medical Center’s spine surgeries include minimally invasive procedures, such as kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty and microdiscectomy, which allow patients to return home the same day. Additional procedures include multi-level decompressive lumbar laminectomy, decompressive cervical laminectomy, and multi-level fusions.

“Congratulations to MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland on earning the Blue Distinction designation for Hip and Knee Replacement. This designation, and the hospital’s participation in quality and safety initiatives that improve quality and safety in these areas, demonstrate a focus on continuous improvement yielding safer patient care,” says David Share, M.D., senior vice president, Value Partnerships, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

The selection criteria were developed with input from the medical community and include general quality and safety metrics as well as program specific metrics. Research confirms that facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers and Blue Distinction Centers+ have better outcomes with lower rates of complications and readmissions than their peers. Blue Distinction Centers+ also are more than 20 percent more cost-efficient.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Those interested in more information may visit bcbsm.com.

MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland is an affiliate of MidMichigan Health, with hospitals in Alma, Clare and Gladwin, as well as Midland, home care and long-term care facilities serving a 14-county region in Michigan. Those interested in more information about orthopaedics at MidMichigan may visit www.midmichigan.org/orthopaedics.