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Baton Rouge General Receives Designation as Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care

BATON ROUGE – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has designated Baton Rouge General’s Milton J. Womack Heart Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care.

As part of the Blue Distinction® program, designated hospitals are required to undergo periodic re-evaluation. This review process ensures that Blue Distinction Centers® continue to meet rigorous, evidence-based quality thresholds that are established in collaboration with expert physicians and leading professional organizations such as the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

The need for high quality cardiovascular care programs is urgent, particularly in Louisiana where the leading cause of death is heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The American Heart Association estimates that more than 1.2 million Americans experience a first or recurrent heart attack each year and cardiovascular disease is far and away the leading cause of death among both men and women.
 
“We are extremely gratified to be recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Surgery and proud to offer our services to the community. The tradition of innovation and clinical care excellence at the General in the fields of cardiology and cardiovascular surgery is among the finest that you will find anywhere in the region. Blue Distinction is a further testament to the quality of our programs, physicians, and other team members,” said Dr. Eugene Berry, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Service Chief.

The Womack Heart Center provides comprehensive care, offering patients access to diagnostic services, advanced heart catherization labs, 24-hour emergency care, extensive surgical services, fully monitored telemetry units, dedicated 64-slice CT Scanners, customized nutritional care, and inpatient & outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs.

To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, the General met various selection criteria (posted at www.BCBS.com), including:

• an established cardiac care program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures (e.g. a minimum of 125 cardiac surgical procedures annually, including both coronary artery bypass surgery and/or valve surgery)

• appropriate experience of its cardiac team, including sub-specialty board certification for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons

• an established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency and a full range of cardiac services

• full accreditation by The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) or national equivalent

• low overall complication and mortality rates

• a comprehensive quality management program

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