“When you’re facing surgery, you want to rest assured you’re going to the best hospital you can,” said Dr. Don Bradley, chief medical officer and senior vice president for BCBSNC. “Choosing Northern Hospital of Surry County can give you some peace of mind, because you know it has met high standards for coordinating patient care, training physicians, and educating patients and involving them in their care. We’re recognizing Northern Hospital not only for the volume of procedures they do, but for the superior expertise that comes from this experience.”

The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a national panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available at www.bcbs.com:

• Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization • Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume • Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care • Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care • Shared decision making and preoperative patient education The Blue Distinction designation is awarded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants. The program is part of the Blues® efforts to collaborate with physicians and medical facilities to improve the overall quality and safety of specialty care.

The additional Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement designations will bring the nation’s number of Blue Distinction designations to more than 1,600 – and this number is expected to increase in the coming years.

Northern Hospital of Surry County is a 133-bed, all-private room community hospital located in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Northern Hospital opened its doors to patients in 1957. The hospital is dedicated to meeting the medical and healthcare needs of residents in Surry, Stokes, Yadkin and Alleghany counties in NC, and Patrick, Carroll, and Grayson counties in Virginia. The hospital has a medical staff of more than 100 physicians and a staff of over 750 healthcare professionals. The hospital also has a volunteer staff of over 200.

About BCBSNC: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 76 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Access BCBSNC online at www.bcbsnc.com.