Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville Designated Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care

6/15/2016

Clarksville, Tenn. (June 16, 2016) – In an effort to help prospective parents find hospitals that deliver quality, affordable maternity care, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee announced that Tennova Healthcare - Clarksville has been named a Blue Distinction^® Center+ for Maternity Care, a designation under the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization. The Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures, including the percentage of newborns that fall into the category of early elective delivery, an ongoing concern in the medical community. Compared with babies born 39 weeks or later, early term infants face higher risks of infant death and respiratory ailments such as respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and respiratory failure, among other conditions. These babies also have a higher rate of admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

In addition, hospitals that receive a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designation agreed to meet requirements that align with principles that support evidence-based practices of care, as well as having initiated programs to promote successful breastfeeding, as described in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by Baby-Friendly USA or the Mother-Friendly Hospital program by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) through its “Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care.” The program also evaluates hospitals on overall patient satisfaction, including a willingness to recommend the hospital to others. 

Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care, an expansion of the national Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, are hospitals recognized for delivering quality, affordable specialty care safely and effectively, based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, a hospital must also meet requirements for cost efficiency.

“We are proud to receive the Blue Distinction^® Center+ for Maternity Care designation,” said Shawn Molsberger, Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville Chief Operating Officer. “This designation is another reflection of the dedication our staff has to providing high quality care for our patients.”

Dr. Jeff Hamre, Chair of the Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology said, “This is a testament to all of our obstetricians and gynecologists who are dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate maternity care at Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville. Our hospital also has the only Level II NICU in the area that is staffed by Vanderbilt neonatologists, and has a team of experienced nurses and technicians who make our Labor and Delivery Center worthy of this designation.”

Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized more than 650 hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care. Hospitals recognized for these designations were assessed using a combination of publicly available quality information and cost measures derived from BCBS companies’ medical claims.

“BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is pleased to congratulate Tennova Healthcare - Clarksville on this achievement,” said Dr. Andrea Willis, chief medical officer for BlueCross. “We believe it’s important to acknowledge the excellent work these facilities are doing as they strive to provide superior quality care. This recognition provides BlueCross members with the peace of mind they need when making decisions regarding medical treatment.”

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery and transplants. Research shows that, compared to other facilities, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients. On average, Blue Distinction Centers+ are also 20 percent more cost-efficient than non-Blue Distinction Center+ designated health care facilities.

For more information about the program, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

 

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