ELMIRA – Arnot Ogden Medical Center has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. It is the only joint replacement program in the region to earn this designation.

Blue Distinction is a nationwide program that recognizes hospitals on the leading edge of treatment for a variety of services. Arnot Health’s joint replacement programs have also been lauded by the Joint Commission, receiving the prestigious “Gold Seal of Approval.”
 
The knee and hip Blue Distinction designation is based on rigorous clinical measures established in collaboration with expert physicians. The clinical data reviewed to meet BlueCross BlueShield criteria include:
· An established knee and hip replacement program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures
· An experienced knee and hip replacement surgery team, including surgeons with board certification, subspecialty fellowship training, and required case volumes for knee and hip replacement procedures
· An established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care and a full range of patient support services
· Full accreditation by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-deemed national accreditation organization
· A comprehensive quality management program
· Pre-operative  patient education
· Processes that support transitions of care
· Clinical outcomes that meet objective thresholds for specific procedures such as complication rates and length of stay

Arnot Health has also received Blue Distinction designations for cardiac care and bariatric surgery.

Arnot Health provides diagnostic, ambulatory, secondary and tertiary acute care, as well as rehabilitative and wellness services to the Southern Tier of New York and the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. Arnot Ogden Medical Center is an independent, not-for-profit, 256-bed tertiary medical facility with more than 300 physicians from over 50 specialties.

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