Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) has designated North Fulton Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery.

Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery demonstrate their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for spine surgery patients. North Fulton Hospital meets evidence-based clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations, and is subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continue to evolve.

“North Fulton Hospital is very proud to be a leader in surgical spine,” said Debbie Keel, CEO of North Fulton Hospital.  “Our physicians and staff work hard to ensure that we deliver the highest quality care possible to these and all of our surgical patients.”

“Blue Distinction will assist members in choosing a facility or physician that best meets their medical needs,” said Dr. Bob McCormack, medical director, BCBSGA. “This program provides easy access to evidence-based health information about physicians and institutions that meet clinically-validated, quality standards, and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care – giving members the confidence needed to make important decisions surrounding their health.”

To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, North Fulton Hospital met the selection criteria posted at www.BCBS.com, which includes:

• An established spine surgery program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures
• An experienced spine surgery team, including spine surgeons with board certification and case volumes meeting specified requirements
• Maintaining full accreditation by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-deemed national accreditation organization
• Processes for patient selection and appropriateness of surgery
• Participation in the Surgical Care Improvement Project with ≥ 90 percent performance on process measures

The full list of Blue Distinction selection criteria is available to the public at www.BCBS.com/bluedistinction.

Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations’ recommendations. Today, more than 1,000 Blue Distinction Center designations have been awarded to facilities nationwide, providing consumers with a framework for making informed decisions on where to go for specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, transplants, and now spine surgery and knee and hip replacement.

North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell.  Opened in 1983, NFH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers.  NFH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology.  The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association^® . The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  Additional information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is available at www.bcbsga.com

Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities' overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians' and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.