St. Joseph’s Health Hospital Recognized for Higher Quality and Cost-Effective Spine Surgery

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— St. Joseph’s Health Hospital is proud to be recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield with a Blue Distinction® Center+ (BDC+) for Spine Surgery designation.

This program identifies hospitals and ambulatory care centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in delivering improved patient safety, better health outcomes, and are more cost-effective. Quality assessments are based on objective measures developed from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) partnership with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

This designation is a testament to the rigorous standards met by St. Joseph’s Health Hospital. Designated facilities provide high-quality care, with an average of 28% lower readmission rates and 29% lower complications within 90 days after spine surgery. BDC+ designated facilities also achieve cost savings of 23% for spine surgery compared to all other facilities for that specialty care area.

Patients treated at Blue Distinction® Center+ facilities benefit from the expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications, making a positive difference in their overall health journey.

“This honor reflects the dedication of our surgical, nursing and support teams who continually strive for excellence in patient care,” said Meredith A. Price, CPA, FHFMA, Senior Vice President, Acute Operations at St. Joseph’s Health. “It’s a privilege to be recognized for delivering both high-quality and cost-effective spine surgery, which means better outcomes and experiences for our patients and their families.”

Blue Distinction Centers+ for Spine Surgery help consumers find both quality and value for their spinal care needs, while also encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall delivery of care nationwide.

Among other criteria, to receive a designation, facilities must:
Have full accreditation from at least one national accrediting organization as either a hospital or ambulatory surgery center
Have low complication, mortality and unplanned readmission rates within 90 days of the primary spine surgery
Have enhanced recovery after surgery processes and procedures in place for quality perioperative care
Participate in Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network

By meeting these stringent criteria, St. Joseph’s Health Hospital not only highlights its commitment to high-quality and affordable health care but also commits to remaining at the forefront of advancements in spine surgery.

To further improve patient outcomes and inform treatment strategies, BCBSA utilized the American Spine Registry (ASR)—a joint effort with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and AAOS—for evidence-based performance measures and patient reported outcome measures.

Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care—and, for those that meet the program’s cost criteria, at lower costs—in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the quality of care they deliver.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit the BCBSA website.

All companies and trademarks listed above are the property of their respective owners and used for identification purposes only, and are in no way associated or affiliated with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Use of these trademarks does not imply endorsement. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® names and symbols and Blue Distinction® are registered trademarks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

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About St. Joseph’s Health
St. Joseph’s Health, a non-profit health care system in Syracuse, New York, has been a trailblazer in the field since 1869 when it became the city’s first public hospital. Its commitment to exceptional care is evident in a network of acute, ambulatory, primary and specialty care services and partner care facilities providing a range of services to promote long-term health in the communities we serve. St. Joseph’s has been ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, is a designated Primary Stroke Center, and is consistently named a Best Regional Hospital and #1 in the Syracuse Metro area by US News and World Report. St. Joseph’s Health is dedicated to excellence, innovation and compassionate patient care. From pioneering ambulance services in Syracuse to being the first in Central New York to use DaVinci robotic surgery technology in an outpatient facility, St. Joseph’s legacy of firsts demonstrates its ongoing commitment to leading medical advancements. Affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians and a member of Trinity Health, St. Joseph’s Health is your trusted partner in health, combining a rich history with a forward-thinking approach to ensure the health and well-being of our communities.

About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. Based in Livonia, Michigan, its annual operating revenue in FY2023 was $21.6 billion with $1.5 billion returned to its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield 
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with about 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company's mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With about 4,500 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.

About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.

About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for noncovered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.