Aspirus St. Luke's Named Blue Distinction Center+ for Hip and Knee Replacements

Aspirus St. Luke's has been recognized as a center of excellence for hip and knee replacements.

The designation of Blue Distinction Center+ comes from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the health care coverage company based in Eagan, Minnesota.

It sets rigorous selection criteria to identify medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care, including robust quality measures focused on improved patient health and safety, as well as new cost-efficiency measures.

Dr. John Watkins, of Aspirus St. Luke's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, said: "This is a way patients can be reassured that external sources have identified Aspirus St. Luke's as achieving these goals in terms of quality care and patient outcomes, in as cost-effective a manner as possible. Every year that's very challenging, and it doesn't happen without the whole institution working together."

He pointed to a team approach between departments including the orthopedics clinic, orthopedic nursing floor, physical therapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation and case management social workers, which helped ensure great patient outcomes.

According to Blue Cross and Blue Shield, research confirms that the newly designated Blue Distinction Centers+ demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients, with lower rates of complications and readmissions.

"I congratulate St Luke's who earned this distinction for 2013, and I thank them for working with Blue Cross and advancing the health of the people and communities that we serve together," said Dr. Larry Lee, executive medical director for provider relations and quality at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "The rest of the nation looks to Minnesota as a leader in providing high quality, affordable health care, and I believe the Blue Distinction program is a significant contributor to that leadership."