McLaren Flint's Joint and Spine Center continues to deliver high quality care to patients. The Medical Center has been designated as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Distinction Center+ for Hip and Knee Replacement and Spine Surgery. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care's 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 - and has recently been expanded to include more robust quality measures focused on improved patient health and safety as well as new cost-efficiency measures.
McLaren Flint was one of the first hospitals in Michigan to receive both prestigious designations. 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.
Research confirms 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. Blue Distinction Centers+ are also 20 percent more cost-efficient.