Regence recognizes Overlake, Valley for surgery procedures

Regence BlueShield has designated Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Valley Medical Center as Blue Distinction Centers for knee and hip replacements and spine surgery respectively.

The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement the following types of criteria were evaluated:

· Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization

· Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume

· Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care

· Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care

· Shared decision making and preoperative patient education.