MIAMI – Florida Blue has recognized Miami Children’s Hospital Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program with a Blue Distinction Center® designation for delivering high quality bone marrow transplant care as part of the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care® program. This designation is based on the  delivery of quality specialty care based on objective, transparent measures for patient safety and health outcomes developed with input from the medical community.

In 2006, the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program was established to help patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers for Transplants® designation, a hospital must demonstrate success in meeting patient safety criteria as well as transplant-specific quality measures, including survival metrics.

Miami Children’s is proud to be recognized by Florida Blue for meeting the rigorous selection criteria for Bone Marrow transplants set by the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program.

“Miami Children’s is committed to providing optimal care for children undergoing bone marrow transplantation and their families. The Miami Children’s Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant team excels in delivering the highest quality standards to the region’s children,” said Dr. Deise Granado-Villar, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Medical and Academic Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of Miami Children’s Hospital.

The number of transplants – including heart, lung, liver, pancreas and bone marrow/stem cell – in the U.S. have increased in recent years.  There were 28,954 transplant procedures performed in 2013 compared to 28,052 in 2012.  Today, more than 123,000 people are awaiting organ donations for transplants, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.  Additionally, the department estimates that more than 20,000 people each year may benefit from a bone marrow/stem cell transplant as their best treatment option.  These transplant procedures cost the nation more than $20 billion annually at an average of approximately $500,000 each, according to the Milliman Research Report, “2011 U.S. Organ and Tissue Transplant Cost Estimates and Discussion.”

The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program identifies hospitals delivering quality care in bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery and transplants.  These specialty areas comprise approximately 30 percent of inpatient hospital expenditures. For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit Blue Distinction.