Hospital Receives Award for Maternity Care

Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross have recognized Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) with a Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community.

Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization, and cesarean sections the most common operating room procedures, according to National Centers for Health Statistics and the Agency for Health care Research & Quality (AHRQ). Reducing early elective delivery is an area of focus for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). According to Health Affairs, elective inductions result in more cesarean deliveries and a longer maternal hospitalization. The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on quality measures for vaginal and cesarean delivery.

"AV Hospital is proud to be recognized by Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross for meeting the rigorous Blue Distinction Center quality selection criteria for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program," said Andrea Randenberg, RN, executive director of AVMC’s Women & Infants Pavilion. "This designation underscores our commitment to providing top-notch care to every mother and baby who come to our hospital."

More than 5,400 babies are born at AV Hospital each year. Being chosen as a Blue Distinction Center is the latest recognition for AV Hospital’s Women & Infants Pavilion. In 2015 the hospital was designated a Baby-Friendly facility in recognition of its support of breastfeeding and mother-baby bonding. Last year it was chosen to be a Breast Milk Depot where nursing mothers could drop-off their donated breast milk to be used by fragile newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. Healthgrades has repeatedly selected AVMC for its Maternity Excellence Award.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized more than 1,000 hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care. Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination of quality information supplied by hospitals and cost measures derived from BCBS companies’ medical claims.

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, maternity care, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other hospitals, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.

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