Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts names Saint Vincent Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to delivering highquality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations

Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers® for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation. In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other facilities.

“We are honored to be recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for high quality knee and hip replacements.” says Carolyn Jackson, CEO of Saint Vincent Hospital. “The entire orthopedic care team at Saint Vincent Hospital is dedicated to providing the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

Knee and hip replacement procedures remain some of the most commonly performed, elective surgical procedures in the U.S., according to a 2018 study released by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In 2014 there were 370,770 total hip replacements and 680,150 total knee replacements

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction