St. Tammany Health System lauded for joint replacement excellence
St. Tammany Health System's recent recognition as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement comes on the heels of the health system's acquisition of a Mako surgical system to assist in total knee and hip replacements. (Stock image)
St. Tammany Health System lauded for joint replacement excellence
Blue Cross Blue Shield Awards Blue Distinction to STHS for Knee and Hip Surgery Quality and Cost Efficiency
COVINGTON – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana named St. Tammany Health System 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 high-quality 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.
“As the heartbeat of our community, St. Tammany Health System is proud to care for its patients and their families with excellence, compassion and teamwork,” Joan M. Coffman CEO, said. “Quite honestly, this distinction from Blue Cross recognizes our values of teamwork, trust, compassion, quality and innovation.”
The honor recognizes an exceptional area of surgical performance at STHS, knee and hip replacement, recently expanded at the system’s flagship, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, by acquisition of MAKO surgical robotics capabilities for total hips and knees.
[ Learn more about Mako total knee and hip replacement at STHS ]
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. Designated facilities include hospitals (with and without an onsite Intensive Care Unit) and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation, and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification.
In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on average 20% more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other facilities. STHS is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana for meeting the robust selection criteria for knee and hip replacements set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Quality is key: only those facilities that first meet nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.
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St. Tammany Health System is the heartbeat of its community, caring for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork; it will strengthen the health of its community with compassion, innovation and partnership and is recognized for quality, safety and the patient experience by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 is an independent service district in a clinically integrated partnership with Ochsner Health. Together, the two organizations focus on aligning their healthcare offerings to best serve patients and families in west St. Tammany and surrounding areas. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS receives no tax funding. More at stph.org.
