{"id":238954,"date":"2025-12-11T14:23:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=238954"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:14:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:14:58","slug":"uconn-healths-comprehensive-spine-center-achieves-prestigious-blue-distinction-center-status","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2025\/12\/uconn-healths-comprehensive-spine-center-achieves-prestigious-blue-distinction-center-status\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Health\u2019s Comprehensive Spine Center Achieves Prestigious Blue Distinction\u00ae Center+ Status"},"content":{"rendered":"

UConn Health\u2019s Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine<\/a> teams have earned the 2025 Blue Distinction\u00ae Center+ (BDC+) designation for Spine Surgery, a national recognition from Blue Cross Blue Shield plans awarded to hospitals that deliver high-quality, effective, and patient-centered spine care.<\/p>\n

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The Blue Distinction\u00ae Centers for Spine Surgery program evaluates hospitals based on rigorous national criteria, including complication and readmission rates, patient-reported outcomes, evidence-based clinical processes, and data submitted through the American Spine Registry (ASR). Programs that demonstrate strong cost-efficiency may also be recognized as Blue Distinction Centers+.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Spine designation reflects a truly collaborative accomplishment between UConn Health\u2019s Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine teams that contribute significantly and strategically to maintaining and elevating that standard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are honored to receive this year\u2019s Blue Distinction+ designation because it reflects not only strong outcomes, but the unified spine program we\u2019ve built at UConn Health,\u201d said Dr. Isaac Moss, chair of Orthopedic Surgery and co-director of the Comprehensive Spine Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Comprehensive Spine Center was founded by Dr. Hilary Onyiuke, and today is a model center of multidisciplinary care that optimizes patient outcomes and transforms future care of our patients. This recognition highlights the value of that collaboration,\u201d says Dr. Ketan Bulsara, chair of Neurosurgery.<\/p>\n

Onyiuke, co-director of the Comprehensive Spine Center and vice chair Neurosurgery, noted that coordinated care is at the core of the program\u2019s success. \u201cPatients benefit most when specialists work as one team,\u201d he said. \u201cOur shared protocols including Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and comprehensive screening practices help patients recover faster, experience fewer complications, and receive the highest-quality spine care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Evaluating Quality and Value<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2025 Blue Distinction\u00ae Centers for Spine Surgery program focuses on elective spine procedures for adult degenerative conditions, such as cervical or lumbar fusion and laminectomy. Hospitals are evaluated on:<\/p>\n