Dignity Health –St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) has once again been recognized with a Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated providers that show expertise in delivering improved 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.
“We are proud to once again be named a Blue Distinction Center for providing high quality cardiac care,” said David Schmidt, MD, medical director, cardiovascular services, St. John’s Regional Medical Center. “Receiving this prestigious designation for a second consecutive earning period is a testament to the skill and talent of the cardiac team at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and our commitment to advancing care for our patients.”
Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care seek to empower patients with the knowledge and tools to find quality cardiac care. To be designated, hospitals must demonstrate expertise in delivering safe and effective cardiac care, focusing on cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary interventions episodes of care.
“Our team works hard every day to provide patients with the best care and the best possible outcomes, said Barry Wolfman, President and CEO of St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo. “This is a well-deserved honor. I am incredibly proud to work alongside such an amazing cardiology team.”
Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination of quality information supplied by hospitals and third-party data registries and cost measures derived from Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies’ medical claims.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally and is expected to claim more than 23.6 million lives annually by 2030.
