Singing River Receives Blue Distinction Center of Excellence for Maternity Care Designation

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is proud to announce the designation of Singing River Ocean Springs Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center of Excellence for Maternity Care. The facility is being recognized by the state’s leading health and wellness company for its work in meeting stringent criteria focused on patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Quality healthcare with healthier outcomes for moms and babies is the goal of the Blue Distinction Center of Excellence for Maternity Care Designation. Blue Distinction Maternity Care Network Hospitals must first be designated by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, based on national criteria around quality, cost, and total value, and then meet additional criteria as defined in the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s Maternity Quality Model.

The Maternity Quality Model is a statewide focusing on maternity best practices focused on improving maternal-infant health outcomes and making childbirth safer. Network Hospitals that achieve Blue Distinction demonstrate a commitment to practicing evidence-based care for moms and babies.

“The Blue Distinction for Maternity Care designation recognizes healthcare providers that demonstrate a commitment to delivering high-quality care to their patients safely, efficiently, and in a cost-effective manner,” said Dr. Thomas Fenter, Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi. “We will continue to highlight and support the efforts of our Network Hospitals that are focused on improving maternity care.”

Dr. Thomas Fenter, Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi

By implementing programs that progressively raise the bar on physician quality, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is providing Mississippians access to quality Network Providers who practice evidence-based medicine, with the overall goal of healthier Mississippians. Research confirms that Blue Distinction Centers of Excellence demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients and lower rates of complications and readmissions than their healthcare peers.

“Our Core Value Statement that Quality is in our DNA rings true, and this designation is a respected moniker symbolizing our commitment to quality care for women and children of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Lee Bond, CEO of Singing River Health System.

Lee Bond, Chief Executive Officer, Singing River Health System

The Blue Distinction Center of Excellence designation is one component of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s quality of care partnership with its Network Providers and illustrates how quality and cost-effective healthcare choices for improved health are what the “Value of Blue” represents to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Members.