Gateway Regional Medical Center Earns Blue Distinction® Center Designation for Quality in Knee and Hip Replacement Surgeries
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has selected Gateway Regional Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.
Knee and hip replacement procedures are among the fastest growing medical treatments in the U.S., according to studies published in the June 2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Designated facilities must also maintain national accreditation.
Gateway Regional Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for meeting the robust selection criteria for knee and hip replacements set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
“Gateway Regional Medical Center is committed to providing a leading knee and hip replacement program for our community,” says Robert Moore, CEO of Gateway Regional Medical Center. “We are on a path of continual improvement: ongoing evaluation of our clinic practices, and investing in the latest tools, techniques and innovations. We are proud of our team and the program they’ve developed for our patients.”
Gateway Regional Medical Center has resumed services that had been previously restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, like knee and hip replacements. “Like so many hospitals across the country, we have focused our efforts on the outbreak,” said Moore. “Unlike a lot of hospitals, we have treated very few COVID-19 cases. We have resumed all of our services in accordance to the CDC and Illinois Department of Health guidelines. We can assure you, we are taking every precaution and are Open, Safe and Ready to help you with your healthcare needs.”
Gateway Regional Medical Center does have restricted visitors into the hospital. In accordance to Governor Pritzker’s executive order, ask all people coming into any Gateway Regional facility to wear a face covering.
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, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is proud to offer this important recognition,” said Derek Robinson, MD, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, chief medical officer, BCBSIL. “It’s one of the ways we’re partnering with members, employers, providers and communities to help achieve their health goals.”
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit
www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.