Rutland Regional Medical Center Earns Blue Distinction Center Designation for Maternity Care

RUTLAND, VT – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (Blue Cross) has selected Rutland Regional Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Rutland Regional Medical Center is currently the sole Blue Distinction^® Center for Maternity Care Program in the state of Vermont.

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity demonstrate leadership by requiring structure and process and outcome metrics above and beyond the traditional perinatal core set. Facilities must collect race ethnicity data, have a maternal quality improvement program, and commence drills and simulations for adverse events. In addition, they must meet clinical outcome metrics at an even higher standard than the previous cycle. Specifically, the rate for low risk first time cesarean sections.

The evaluation also includes measures that are known drivers of morbidity and mortality in maternal health care. Specifically, facilities must demonstrate standardization or protocols in hemorrhage and hypertension management. These adverse events effect minority women disproportionately more so it is even more critical that facilities are also measured on these key metrics with the goal of achieving health equity.

The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care Program provides new and expectant mothers access to high-quality and affordable maternity care, close to home. The result of this designation assures that designated providers are committed to protecting the health and safety of each mother and child by using evidence-based maternal health care practices.

Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation.

“Rutland Regional Medical Center women’s and children’s healthcare services are managed by a dedicated and experienced group of providers and support staff who share a singular focus on the health and wellbeing of both the parent and newborn,” said Leah Romine, Nurse Director of the Women’s and Children’s Unit and Birthing Center at Rutland Regional. “This distinction is the result of our quest to continually find ways to improve what we do here every day and I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

Link to high resolution photo here (download by clicking the down arrow on the left). Photo caption: Members of the Women's & Children's Unit and Birthing Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center - l to r: From left to right Megen Hasbrouck, RN, Amy Williams, RN, Justine Franko, RN, Manager of WACU, Leah Romine, RN, Director Women's & Children's Unit, Jody McIntosh, RN, Becky Allen, RN, Chloe Harris, Dr. Ananda Boyer, Dr. Sarah Decker, Medical Director, Rutland Women's Healthcare