Saint Francis Medical Center's Heart Institute Recognized by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri has designated Saint Francis Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care^SM. This recognition is awarded to facilities that have demonstrated their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Each facility meets stringent clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations’ recommendations, and is subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continue to evolve.

Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care provide a full range of cardiac care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass graft surgery). To date, Blue Cross and Blue Shield has designated more than 410 Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care across the country.

Saint Francis was also recently designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery^SM and a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement^SM.

“We are very excited to receive this designation from one of the nation’s leading health plans,” says Jeannie Fadler, Vice President – Patient Care Services at Saint Francis. “Our Heart Institute features excellent clinical programs that improve patient education and surgical outcomes each day. Being named a Blue Distinction Center underscores Saint Francis’ commitment to providing very good patient care to the region.”

Saint Francis’ Heart Institute provides advanced diagnostics, leading-edge cardiac intervention and surgeries, emergency care, cardiac rehabilitation, risk assessments for heart disease, vascular disease screenings, and educational programs. Saint Francis is a leader in cardiac innovations, being the region’s first hospital to perform cardiac catheterization, and continues to lead the way in heart care with state-of-the-art procedures, including the da Vinci® S HD™ Surgical System. Saint Francis will complete construction in 2011 on a combined Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute, where patients will have access to advanced treatments and technology – under one convenient roof.

To be designated, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield evaluated the range of services in each area of expertise, experience and training of surgeons, quality management programs, clinical pathways, and patient involvement in education and shared decision making. More information on selection criteria is available at www.bcbs.com and more information on the Saint Francis Heart Institute may be found by clicking here.