Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has selected Arkansas Surgical Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery as well as Knee and Hip Replacement—as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to delivering 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. 

Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate expertise resulting in fewer patient complications and readmissions compared to other facilities. All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation. In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other facilities. 

“We’re proud to be recognized by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” said Brian Fowler, Arkansas Surgical Hospital, CEO. “Our staff and physicians continuously work together to create high-quality, patient-centered care. It’s a privilege to work in an organization with such expertise in areas that matter most to patients—quality care, cost efficiency and patient outcomes.” 

The Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants. Research for many of these programs shows that, compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

About Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Arkansas Surgical Hospital was founded by orthopedic and spine surgeons who were searching for a way to provide a better overall experience for their patients.  As a physician-owned hospital, the surgeons are able to direct their patients’ overall care and experience at a higher level. Arkansas Surgical Hospital prides itself on its disciplined focus on safety and a total commitment to the care and comfort of patients and their families, resulting in excellent surgical outcomes.

About Blue Distinction Centers

Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.