Griffin Hospital Recognized for Higher-Quality and Cost-Effective Knee and Hip Replacements

Griffin Hospital is proud to be recognized by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut with a Blue Distinction^® Centers+ (BDC+) for Knee and Hip Replacement designation.

This program identifies hospitals and ambulatory care centers that demonstrate expertise in patient safety, deliver better health outcomes, and are more cost-effective. Quality assessments are based on objective measures developed from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) partnership with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

This designation confirms the rigorous patient safety and satisfaction standards met by Griffin Hospital. Designated knee and hip replacement facilities deliver high-quality care, with an average of 21 percent fewer readmissions and 21 percent fewer complications within 90 days after knee and hip replacement surgery. Designated facilities also achieve cost savings of 30 percent for knee and hip replacements compared to all other facilities for that specialty care area.

Patients treated at designated facilities benefit from the expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications, making a positive difference in their overall health journey.

“As a community-focused, person-centered hospital, Griffin is committed to providing exceptionally safe, high-quality care at a low cost to improve access to truly life-changing surgeries,” said Griffin Health Surgical Services Administrator Kim Viadero, RN, BSN, CNOR. “We are honored to be recognized for meeting the high standards of this award, which is mostly due to the dedication of Griffin Health caregivers and our community surgeons in improving the health and well-being of our patients.”

“Choosing where to receive care is one of the most important healthcare decisions our members make,” said Lou Gianquinto, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut. “Griffin Hospital’s Blue Distinction Centers+ designation for Knee and Hip Replacement reflects its commitment to delivering high-quality, cost-effective care that helps patients – and our members – achieve better health outcomes. We’re proud to recognize Griffin Hospital for meeting these rigorous standards and providing our members with access to exceptional orthopedic care.”

Blue Distinction Centers+ for Knee and Hip Replacement help consumers find both quality and value for their healthcare, while also encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall delivery of care nationwide.

Among other criteria, to receive a designation, facilities must:

• Have full accreditation from at least one national accrediting organization as either a hospital or ambulatory surgery center;
• Have low complication, mortality and unplanned readmission rates within 90 days after elective primary total knee and hip replacements;
• Have enhanced recovery after surgery processes and procedures in place for quality perioperative care;
• And participate in Anthem’s BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network.

By meeting these stringent criteria, Griffin Hospital not only highlights its commitment to high quality healthcare, but also commits to remaining at the forefront of advancements in knee and hip replacements.

To further improve patient outcomes and inform treatment strategies, BCBSA utilized the AAOS and American Joint Replacement Registry for evidence-based performance measures and patient reported outcome measures.

Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care—and, for those that meet the program’s cost criteria, at lower costs—in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the quality of care they deliver.

For more information about the program, visit http://www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

About Griffin Health

Griffin Health is a not-for-profit health care system that includes the award-winning Griffin Hospital, an independent community teaching hospital located in Derby, Connecticut and its integrated medical practice Griffin Faculty Physicians.Griffin Hospital is a 160-bed acute care community hospital serving more than 130,000 residents of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Region.

Griffin Hospital is the flagship hospital for Planetree, an international consumer healthcare organization dedicated to promoting patient-centered care, and has received national recognition for creating a healthcare facility and an approach to patient care that is responsive to the needs of the whole person and their loved ones. Griffin’s commitment to the patient-centered care philosophy enhances its mission to improve the well-being of its communities by empowering individuals with health education, wellness programs and assistance with conditions that adversely affect health. Many healthcare organizations around the world send visitors to Griffin Hospital’s facilities and incorporate its Planetree concepts into their healthcare delivery models.

Griffin Hospital is recognized for having industry-leading patient satisfaction ratings and has received numerous quality and clinical excellence awards. Griffin Hospital was listed as one of the “World’s Best Hospitals” by Newsweek magazine for eight consecutive years (2019-2026), awarded Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care™ by Planetree International, and was named one of the nation’s top hospitals for orthopedic surgery by Money magazine in its inaugural Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery 2026 rankings.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans, Inc. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index^SM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.

About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for noncovered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.