January 27, 2010 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has designated five Fairview hospitals as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Three Fairview hospitals have been named a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery. Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement and Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s expansion of its Blue Distinction® designation.
 
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association uses objective selection criteria to award Blue Distinction® status to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The program is part of the Blues® efforts to collaborate with physicians and facilities to improve the overall quality of specialty care.

Fairview hospitals awarded designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement include the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview (Minneapolis), Fairview Southdale Hospital (Edina), Fairview Ridges Hospital (Burnsville), Fairview Lakes Medical Center (Wyoming) and Fairview Northland Medical Center (Princeton).

Also awarded designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery are the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, Fairview Southdale Hospital and Fairview Ridges Hospital.

Blue Distinction Centers have demonstrated value and quality in providing comprehensive services for knee and hip replacement as well as for spine surgery services including discectomy, fusion and decompression procedures.

To learn more, visit  fairview.org or bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction

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.