The Women’s Center at Sharon Regional brings together progressive birthing techniques and experienced professionals.

February 6, 2018 (Sharon, PA) — Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has recognized Sharon Regional Medical Center 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.

Quality is key: only those hospitals that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally-established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.

The Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on quality measures for vaginal and cesarean delivery. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, a hospital must also demonstrate cost-efficiency.

Sharon Regional Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Highmark BCBS for meeting the rigorous Blue Distinction Center+ quality and cost selection criteria for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

“At Sharon Regional Medical Center, our focus is to always provide the highest quality and safest care possible to our patients.  Additionally, we believe that each patient should be cared for as though they were members of our own family,” stated Joseph Hugar, President of Sharon Regional Medical Center.  “The Blue Distinction accreditation exemplifies the commitment and dedication of our birth center teams to offer world-class care right here in our local communities.”

“There are several areas that set Sharon Regional’s Women’s Center apart.  Our maternity care approach is family inclusive.  We offer things like overnight accommodations for the father, special meals, and everything we do is centered on the mom and her family.  From breast feeding and childbirth preparation classes, to ensuring a safe and comfortable stay, our nursing staff is a big reason for the Blue Distinction recognition.  This is a committed team that includes nurses with more than 20 years of experience, many with advanced certification in obstetric nursing.”

About Sharon Regional Medical Center

Sharon Regional Medical Center is your community healthcare provider; a 220 licensed, acute care bed hospital with 19 satellite centers throughout the region. As a Joint Commission accredited hospital, Sharon Regional proudly offers specialized services including the Heart and Vascular Institute, emergency heart attack/stroke treatment, cancer care, orthopedics/sports medicine, minimally invasive surgery, bariatric surgery, emergency care, a breast care center, and a family birth center now designated as a Highmark Blue Distinction Center + for maternity care.  For more information, visit www.sharonregionalmedical.org.

About Steward Health Care

Steward Health Care, the largest private hospital operator in the United States, is a physician-led health care services organization committed to providing the highest quality of care in the communities where patients live. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Steward operates 36 community hospitals nationwide that employ approximately 37,000 people and regularly receive top awards for quality and safety. The Steward network includes more than 26 urgent care centers, 42 preferred skilled nursing facilities, substantial behavioral health services, over 7,300 beds under management, and more than 1.1 million covered lives through the company’s managed care and health insurance services.

Steward’s unique health care service delivery model leverages technology, innovation, and care coordination to keep patients healthier. With a culture that prioritizes agility, resourcefulness, and continuous improvement, Steward is recognized as one of the nation’s leading accountable care organizations. The Steward Health Care Network includes thousands of physicians who care for approximately 2 million patients annually. Steward Medical Group, the company’s employed physician group, provides more than 1 million patient encounters per year. The Steward Hospital Group operates hospitals in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. Additional information is available at www.steward.org.

About Highmark BCBS Blue Distinction

Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized approximately 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.

 “The Blue Distinction program gives Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield members the ability to choose their Providers based upon reliable quality and safety information. It also provides a pathway for exceptional Providers to demonstrate their value, and delivers the kind of transparency necessary for members to make informed value-driven healthcare decisions. We congratulate our Blue Distinction Specialty Care Providers on their accomplishment and thank our members for choosing Highmark BCBS”, said Dr. Charles DeShazer, Vice President and Executive Medical Director, Clinical Services, Medical Policy & Quality.  www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

Highmark Inc. doing business as Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves approximately 3.3 million members through the company’s health care benefits business and hundreds of thousands of additional members through the Blue card program. It employs more than 4,200 people in western, north central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.