Flint, Michigan-- Hurley Medical Center has received designation as a Blue Distinction Center in the areas of Knee and Hip Replacement. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care® program is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care.

Since 2006, consumers, providers and employers have relied on the Blue Distinction program to identify hospitals delivering quality care in Bariatric Surgery, Cardiac Care, Complex and Rare Cancers, Knee and Hip Replacements, Spine Surgery and Transplants. The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from the medical community and include general quality and safety metrics as well as program specific metrics. Hurley Medical Center is proud to have met the rigorous selection criteria that have been set by the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program.

“As part of a major academic medical center, Hurley is devoted to the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and diseases of the body’s musculoskeletal system. Our skilled physicians combine their vast experience with the latest technology to provide personalized care of bone and joint problems that affect a patient’s comfort and ability to function. Having this designation only enhances the exceptional care we provide patients, around the clock,” says Cathy Metz, PT, MBA, Service Line Administrator, Musculoskeletal and Orthopedics at Hurley Medical Center.

“Congratulations to Hurley Medical Center on earning the Blue Distinction designation for Hip and Knee Replacement.  This designation, and the hospital’s participation in initiatives that improve quality and safety in these areas, demonstrate a focus on continuous improvement yielding safer patient care,” says David Share, MD, senior vice president, Value Partnerships, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Research indicates that the newly designated Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients, with lower rates of complications and readmissions than their peers. The program provides consumers with tools to make better informed healthcare decisions.

For interviews with Cathy Metz and a Joint Replacement Patient, please contact Ilene Cantor, Administrator, Marketing, Community and Public Relations at 810-262-7164 or icantor1@hurleymc.com.

Hurley Medical Center is a 443-bed premier public teaching hospital located in the heart of Genesee County, Michigan.  As the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, Level II Pediatric Trauma Center (Genesee, Lapeer, Shiawassee Counties), Burn Center, and the highest level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit available in Genesee County, Hurley is a recognized leader in clinical care and education, maintaining affiliations with Michigan State University, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan-Flint, Mott Community College, Henry Ford Health System and Children’s Hospital of Michigan-Detroit. Founded in 1908, Hurley provides patient care for more than 100,000 people annually.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.