Hospital earns award for quality knee, hip replacement surgeries

PHOENIXVILLE » Independence Blue Cross has selected Phoenixville Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities that show a commitment to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.

Facilities designated as

Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and readmissions. Designated facilities include hospitals (with and without an onsite Intensive Care Unit) and Ambulatory Surgery Centers. All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification.

Knee and hip replacement procedures remain some of the most commonly performed, elective surgical procedures in the U.S., according to a 2018 study released by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In 2014 there were 370,770 total hip replacements and 680,150 total knee replacements.

“The Total Knee and Hip Replacement team at Phoenixville Hospital is committed to providing safe, quality care to the adult population seeking total knee or total hip replacement surgery, utilizing evidenced- based clinical practice guidelines, throughout the continuum which is demonstrated in our positive patient outcomes,” states Susan Reichenbach, RN, BS, CPHQ, vice president and chief quality officer at Phoenixville Hospital.