French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), a Dignity Health Central Coast Hospital, is pleased to announce it has again been designated by Anthem Blue Cross as a Blue Distinction Center+ for cardiac care excellence.
FHMC received the honor as part of the Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care program, through the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community.
To receive a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care designation, a hospital must demonstrate its expertise in delivering safe and effective cardiac care, focusing on cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) episodes of care. A hospital must also have earned national accreditation at the facility level. In addition to meeting established quality thresholds, these hospitals must demonstrate better cost-efficiency compared to its peers.
“French Hospital continues to lead the nation in quality, safety, and patient satisfaction with our award-winning cardiac programs,” says FHMC President & CEO Alan Iftiniuk. “This Blue Distinction Center+ is another testament to our ongoing commitment to providing outstanding cardiac care, and we are honored to receive this prestigious recognition.”
FHMC is home to the Central Coast’s first cardiac hybrid suite, a space where interventional radiologists, cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons can work side-by-side in the same room, at the same time.
Located in the Copeland, Forbes and Rossi Cardiac Care Center within FHMC, the George Hoag Family Advanced Hybrid Surgical Suite delivers the latest in high-tech imaging and newly developed surgical capabilities. The hybrid suite also houses San Luis Obispo County’s only cardiac electrophysiology program (EP), which is the science of diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders. In addition, FHMC’s new Copeland Health Education Pavilion features an advanced life-saving CPR training classroom for health care providers, the Pacific Gas and Electric CPR Training Classroom.
For more information about the Blue Distinction Center+ program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.