Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield recently recognized Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, with a Blue Distinction Center+ designation in the area of maternity care.
The designation places Genesis among those nationally designated facilities shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective measures developed by the medical community for patient safety and better health outcomes.
Blue Distinction Centers+ demonstrate quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results in addition to more affordable care.
“Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, is honored to be included among the nation’s best providers of maternity care by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,” said Jordan Voigt, president of Genesis Medical Center, Davenport.
“I want to recognize the nurses, obstetrics providers, and anesthesiologists who deliver a personalized experience for parents and newborns at our Genesis BirthCenter while ensuring safe, quality care. We are proud to be part of these important family milestones.”
The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care Program is designed to respond to the clinical challenges in maternity care. The goal is to provide a best-in-class maternity care designation that gives new and expectant parents access to higher quality and affordable maternity care, close to home.
Overall, cost of care episodes for vaginal and cesarean births at Blue Distinction Center+ facilities are 20% less than those at non-Blue Distinction Centers+ facilities. Episiotomy rates were 49% less at Blue Distinction Centers than at those at non-Blue Distinction Centers.
To receive a Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care designation, a healthcare facility must have a maternal quality improvement program and conduct drills and simulations for adverse events. In addition, it must meet clinical outcome metrics at an even higher standard than the program’s last designation cycle. In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+, on average, are 20% more cost-efficient per episode of care compared to their peers.
Genesis Health System became part of MercyOne, a statewide Iowa health system, on March 1. Genesis is among a group of MercyOne hospitals similarly recognized for maternity care — MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, and MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center.
