IRMC Received Blue Cross Blue Shield "Cardiac Center of Excellence" Designation for 14th Year
09/21/2009
Among Elite Group of Michigan Hospitals to Hold Continuous Designation
Ingham Regional Medical Center is among a small, elite group of Michigan hospitals to have achieved and maintained Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Michigan Cardiac Center of Excellence designation uninterrupted since the standard was first created in 1996. That’s the message Ingham released today, on the heels of news that the hospital received the designation for the 14th consecutive year. Ingham is the only hospital in the region to hold continuous designation.
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death of adults in America. This year, nearly 1.2 million Americans will have their first or recurrent cardiac event – half of them will die. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) encourages use of Cardiac Centers of Excellence if cardiac care is needed.
“Recognition by Blue Cross Blue Shield is an honor and highlights the commitment of our team and medical staff to provide the very best cardiac care,” said Robert Wright, Ingham President and CEO. “Experience matters. For 14 years Blue Cross Blue Shield has recognized that our facility has consistently demonstrated superior outcomes and fewer complications for patients seeking cardiac care.”
BCBSM is a nationally recognized pioneer in the process of partnering with hospitals to improve patient outcomes. In 1996, BCBSM launched the Cardiac Center of Excellence designation to recognize those Michigan hospitals with open-heart surgery programs that achieve superior clinical outcomes as well as superior quality improvement processes that continuously monitor, evaluate and improve patient outcomes.
The criteria for the Cardiac Center of Excellence designation include achievement of national standards of care and excellent patient outcomes. There are no financial indicators taken into consideration. Ingham exceeded BCBSM criteria on all measures, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass surgery).
The designation is awarded on a three-year cycle. The number of hospitals to receive the designation has varied since 1996; however, only a select few have maintained the designation since the inception of the program. The announcement yesterday named 20 Michigan hospitals, but in past years that number has dipped to as few as 10.
About Ingham Regional Medical Center
Ingham Regional Medical Center and Ingham Regional Orthopedic Hospital of Lansing are part of McLaren Health Care, mid-Michigan’s largest health care system. Collectively, the seven hospitals in the McLaren system serve a 26-county region, employ 13,000 people, and generate more than $1.5 billion annually in net revenue.
About McLaren Health Care
Headquartered in Flint, Mich., McLaren Health Care has been recognized as one of the top Integrated Health Networks in the nation by Verispan. With 11 subsidiaries, McLaren is one of the largest health care providers in the state. The system reaches nearly 35 percent of Michigan residents through more than 150 locations, 15,000 employees and 3,600 physicians. McLaren Health Care had revenues totaling more than $3.7 billion in 2006, and has experienced double-digit growth since 1989.
The nonprofit system includes eight regional hospitals: Bay Regional Medical Center and Bay Special Care Hospital in Bay City; Ingham Regional Medical Center and Ingham Regional Orthopedic Hospital in Lansing; Lapeer Regional Medical Center in Lapeer; McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint; Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center in Mt. Clemens and POH Regional Medical Center in Pontiac. In addition to the eight hospital facilities, McLaren operates McLaren Visiting Nurse & Hospice, an award-winning home health, hospice and medical supplies provider; McLaren Health Plan, a licensed HMO offering benefit plans for commercial businesses and Medicaid recipients; and Great Lakes Cancer Institute, the largest cancer care network of its kind in the state.
