Published: April 13, 2009
LANSING, Mich. - Cementing its place as a leader in cardiovascular care, Sparrow Hospital has been designated as a Cardiac Center of Excellence by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Surgery by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).
"These Blue Cross Blue Shield designations are further proof that Sparrow is a regional leader in the field of cardiovascular care," said Milind Karve, MD, medical director of the Heart and Vascular Center. "We have an ultra-modern facility, some of the top clinicians in their fields and a dedicated staff that is highly trained and highly skilled. The Heart and Vascular Center offers compassionate, comprehensive cardiac care for every patient, every time."
To be named a Cardiac Center of Excellence, a hospital must achieve excellent results with cardiac procedures and meet BCBSM's criteria for staff credentials and number of procedures performed. A Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Surgery must meet stringent clinical criteria set by the BCBSA, developed with input from the nation's top clinicians and medical organizations, including the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
The recognitions are the latest in long line of acknowledgements for the Sparrow Heart and Vascular Center, the most modern and technologically advanced facility of its kind in mid-Michigan. Sparrow's open-heart surgery program, which marked its 15th anniversary this year, has completed nearly 5,000 open‑heart surgeries to date. The Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons has cited Sparrow for the high-quality care available here, and Sparrow's low infection rate after cardiac surgery - a key indicator of quality - puts Sparrow Hospital in the top 25 percent of all hospitals