Blue Cross and Blue Shield Initiatives Recognized for Increasing Patient Safety and ...( CHICAGO Sept. 10 -- The Blue Cro...),Health

CHICAGO, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), in collaboration with the Harvard Medical School's Department of Health Care Policy, announced today seven Blue Cross and Blue Shield company initiatives as 2007 BlueWorks(R) winners, in the category of 'Collaborating with Providers.'

BlueWorks is a partnership between BCBSA and the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy that recognizes the innovative ways Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working with doctors and hospitals to increase the efficiency and consistency of care delivery nationwide. Harvard researchers evaluate Blue Cross and Blue Shield local programs on innovation, efficacy, robust design and the potential for program replication. Since 2004, Harvard Medical School's Department of Health Care Policy has named 39 Blue Cross and Blue Shield programs as BlueWorks winners.

The 2007 BlueWorks winners are being recognized during BCBSA's BlueWorks for Providers Week (Sept. 10-14). "The 2007 BlueWorks winners are to be congratulated for designing and implementing programs to improve patient safety and efficiency," said Scott P. Serota, BCBSA president and CEO. "The BlueWorks program allows Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to share best-practices and ultimately transform the way healthcare is delivered across America."

"We are pleased to work with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies as they are committed to collaborating with providers to improve the quality and delivery of care in the U.S.," said Barbara McNeil, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School.

The following BlueWorks winning programs exemplify the Blues' commitment to collaborating with and rewarding local healthcare providers that improve the quality of healthcare and patient safety.

Hospital Patient Safety

In 2003, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia launched their quality
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