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Marquette General Health System
August 12, 2010
Marquette General Hospital designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network have designated Marquette General Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery. The Blue Distinction program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate higher levels of performance in providing better care for patients.
Marquette General Neurosurgeons Dr. Craig Coccia, Dr. Paul LaHaye and Dr. Richard Rovin, and Orthopaedic Surgery Associates of Marquette physicians Dr. Matthew Songer and Dr. Edward Southern collaborate together to offer comprehensive spine surgery services, including minimally invasive and artificial disk technology, spinal nerve decompression, fusions and deformity repairs.
“As the Regional Medical Center for the Upper Peninsula, this distinction reinforces our commitment to providing the highest level of surgical care. That’s what our patients expect and deserve,” said A. Gary Muller, FACHE, President of MGH and President and CEO of Superior Health Partners. “We have an excellent team of supportive doctors and staff across 56 specialties who work hard each day to make sure our patients receive the best care when they walk through our doors.”
The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available on 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
“This distinction is a credit to the focus on each patient by our physicians and staff,” said Dr. Craig Coccia, of Marquette General Neurosurgery. “We are committed to providing the highest standards of care for our patients. It’s rewarding to see these efforts recognized.”
The Blue Distinction designation is awarded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality health care 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.
"This distinction assures patients that they are getting the best care here, right in Marquette,” said Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon Dr. Matthew Songer. “We team with MGH to conduct leading-edge spine research to continually find new ways to improve our patients’ quality of life. Our use of the latest surgical techniques and devices coupled with our specialty-trained staff help patients achieve the best outcomes possible.”
The Marquette General Hospital is the only Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery in the region and one of the first in the State. For more information about the Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery or to find out how our services can benefit your patients with spinal issues, please contact the Marquette General Brain and Spine Director Laurie Neldberg-Weesen, RN, at (906) 225-3251 or laurie.neldberg-weesen@mghs.org.
Appointments for the Marquette General Brain & Spine Center can be made at
(906) 225-4575.
Appointments for Orthopaedic Surgery Associates of Marquette, P.C. can be made at (906) 225-1321.
Marquette General Hospital is a proud member of Superior Health Partners -- hospitals working together to enhance the quality of care, increasing access to care and growing Upper Peninsula jobs.
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 the customer service number on the back of your Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield identification card or call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.
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