05/02/2008
Blue Distinction CentersSM offer access to specialized care
Regence members now have access to more than 780 Blue Distinction CentersSM nationwide, providing quality care in the areas of cardiac care, bariatric surgery and transplants as well as complex and rare cancers.
Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers are facilities within the participating Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan network service areas that offer comprehensive inpatient cancer care programs for adults, delivered by multidisciplinary teams with subspecialty training and distinguished clinical expertise in treating complex and rare subtypes of cancer.
These facilities focus on multidisciplinary treatment planning and complex, major surgical treatments for the following malignancies:
- Acute leukemia (inpatient/non-surgical)
- Bladder cancer
- Bone cancer
- Brain cancer – primary
- Esophageal cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Liver cancer
- Ocular melanoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Soft tissue sarcomas
- Thyroid cancer – medullary or anaplastic
Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers were developed in strategic collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and input from leading clinicians and professional organizations.
Selection criteria for Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers set objective, evidence-based criteria for clinical care. All Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers feature:
- Multidisciplinary team input, including sub-specialty trained teams for complex and rare cancers and demonstrated depth of expertise across cancer disciplines in medicine, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology and radiology
- Ongoing quality management and improvement programs for cancer care
- Ongoing commitment to using clinical data registries and providing access to appropriate clinical research for complex and rare cancers
- Sufficient volume of experience in treating rare and complex cancers
By identifying Blue Distinction Centers that meet rigorous, objective, evidence-based criteria for clinical quality, established in collaboration with leading medical specialists and professional organizations, Blue Plans are working to improve the quality of health care for all Americans.
For additional information including the Blue Distinction Center locations visit the BCBSA Web site. If you have questions, please talk to your Regence Sales contact.
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