TOPEKA – Four Kansas hospitals have been designated as Blue Distinction® Centers (BDC) or Blue Distinction Centers+

(BDC+) for Bariatric Surgery by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program

Blue Distinction Center Specialty Care programs identify hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in patient safety, deliver better health outcomes and are more cost-effective. For bariatric surgery, quality assessments are based on objective measures developed from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) partnership with the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality

Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

“Recognition as a Blue Distinction Center reflects a facility’s commitment to delivering high quality care to our members and Kansans statewide,” said Matt All, president/CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “We value our provider partners’ dedication to ensuring patients receive the care they deserve.”

BCBSKS recognizes the following BDC and BDC+ facilities

BDC facilities deliver quality care, safely and effectively. They include:

• Stormont Vail Health, Topeka
• University of Kansas Health System – St. Francis Campus, Topeka
• Wesley Medical Center, Wichita

BDC+ facilities deliver quality care, safely and effectively and achieve cost efficiency. They include:

• Ascension Via Christi Hospitals, Wichita