UnityPoint Health announced on Wednesday, Jan. 10, that Trinity BirthPlace Bettendorf has been recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield with a Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) for Maternity Care designation.
The designation is part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care Program. To earn it, each facility must safely deliver cost-effective, quality care. Trinity BirthPlace Bettendorf joins 12 facilities in Iowa to receive such distinction.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program plays a key role in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) National Health Equity Strategy. It’s aimed at reducing racial health disparities across the care spectrum and improving patient outcomes for all Americans.
To align with this strategy, the Blue Distinction program enhanced its quality and measurement standards to recognize higher-quality facilities that have taken action to respond effectively to obstetric emergencies, reduce racial disparities and improve maternal health outcomes.
Based on data from the current designation cycle, facilities designated under the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program demonstrate higher-quality care compared to non-Blue Distinction Center facilities, with overall average rates of 26% lower episiotomies, 60% fewer elective deliveries, and 17% lower cesarean births — all of which point to healthier outcomes for patients. BDC+ designated facilities also exhibited an average savings of 21% for maternity care.
Delivering care for moms
“Our organizational vision is to always provide the best outcome for every patient, every time and it’s so rewarding to see that others recognize this effort,” said Kelli Sieverding, Trinity Bettendorf BirthPlace manager. “We will continue to do everything we can to bring quality care to mothers when they need it.”
Trinity BirthPlace Bettendorf welcomes 1,000 babies each year. Its comprehensive services provide individualized care, support and education throughout pregnancy, delivery, recovery and the many stages of life.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program’s selection criteria was devised to close clinical care gaps and reduce inequities that persist throughout the maternal care spectrum. The selection criteria includes components of BCBSA’s Maternal Health Equity.
To be designated, each applicant facility was evaluated on a combination of objective data on patient outcomes. In addition they looked at a practices implemented to reduce racial disparities and improve maternal health outcomes. They include:
- Using evidence-based best practices to respond effectively to obstetric emergencies.
- Offering unconscious bias training.
- Participating in the regional Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
- Having doula support available on the maternity care team.
- Collecting race, ethnicity and language data.
- Having a program dedicated to quality improvements in maternal care.
- Running drills and simulations to prepare providers to deal with a range of obstetric emergencies.
