Mercy Medical Center recognized for high-quality & cost-efficient maternity care

Mercy Medical Center has been recognized by Wellmark® Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ (BDC+) for Maternity Care designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. To earn this designation, facilities must safely deliver high-quality and cost-effective care.

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 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 Centers for Maternity Care 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.

Facilities designated under this program demonstrate higher-quality care with overall average rates of 26 percent fewer episiotomies, 60 percent fewer elective deliveries and 17 percent lower cesarean births — all of which point to healthier outcomes for patients. BDC+ designated facilities also exhibited an average savings of 21 percent for maternity care.

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find low-cost, quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery; cancer care; cardiac care; cellular immunotherapy; fertility care; gene therapy; knee and hip replacement; maternity care; spine surgery; substance use treatment and recovery; and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.  

For more information about the program, visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s website.