Independence Blue Cross has recognized that The CardioVascular Center at The Chester County Hospital has achieved status as a Blue Distinction Center^SM for Cardiac Care.

Blue Distinction is a nationwide program that creates an unprecedented level of health care transparency for consumers and providers. Driven by quality, collaboration and affordability, Blue Distinction strengthens consumer engagement and provider partnerships through new specialty centers, which offer the best practices and standards of care in cardiac care.

"The goal of Blue Distinction is to provide consumers with the information necessary to make more effective health care decisions," explains Jean Caulfield, Senior Vice President of Professional Services. "We are proud to have received this recognition."

The process used to select Blue Distinction Centers^SMis based on clinical data supplied by hospitals. Each facility's structure, processes, and care outcomes are rigorously evaluated. The criteria for designation include nationally endorsed quality measures, developed in collaboration with medical experts and professional organizations.

"Our core mission at Independence Blue Cross is to improve access to high-quality, affordably priced health care, and to accomplish that we need to build strong partnerships with physicians and hospitals," said Dr. I. Steven Udvarhelyi, chief medical officer at Independence Blue Cross. "The Blue Distinction program highlights for our members those hospitals with a strong track record of success in cardiac care."

"Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidenced-based health and medical information," says Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association chief medical officer. "These centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better outcomes in patient care."

The criteria for becoming a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac CareSM include:

• Full-service, accredited inpatient hospital facility;
• Program must be performing a minimum required volume of percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and provide a full range of services including inpatient cardiac care and cardiac rehabilitation;
• Sub-specialty board certification of cardiac team;
• Ongoing quality management and improvement programs; and
• Cardiac care processes and outcomes for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass graft surgery including evaluation of complication and mortality rates.

For more information about The CardioVascular Center at The Chester County Hospital, call 1-866 DR HEART or visit us at www.866DrHeart.com. For more information about Blue Distinction Centers, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

The Chester County Hospital is a non-profit, community based hospital located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It provides medical and surgical treatment with specialties in Cardiology, Oncology, Women's Health and Orthopedics. It was the first hospital in Chester County to establish a full service, interventional cardiac program in July of 2001. Since that time, The CardioVascular Center has treated more than 9000 area residents. It participates in outcomes studies through national database reporting to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology.

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For nearly 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered quality health care products and services tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, groups and providers.

Independence Blue Cross received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO and PPO health care plans. In addition, in 2005, Independence Blue Cross's Personal Choice was rated the No. 1 PPO in the nation and its Keystone Health Plan East HMO was ranked the No. 1 HMO in the region in a leading independent consumer magazine.

For more information on Independence Blue Cross, visit our website at www.ibx.com.

Last Updated: 6/22/2009