Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Designated Blue Distinction® Center+ For Maternity Care

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois - Franciscan Health Olympia Fields has been recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ for Maternity Care designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

The program plays a key role in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's National Health Equity Strategy aimed at reducing racial health disparities across the care spectrum and improving patient outcomes for all Americans. To align with this strategy, the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program enhanced its quality and measurement standards to recognize higher-quality facilities that have taken action to respond effectively to obstetric emergencies, reduce racial disparities, and improve maternal health outcomes.

Based on data from the current designation cycle, facilities designated under the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program demonstrate higher-quality care compared to non-Blue Distinction Center facilities, with overall average rates of 26% lower episiotomies, 60% fewer elective deliveries and 17% lower cesarean births, all of which point to healthier outcomes for patients. Designated facilities also exhibited an average savings of 21% for maternity care.

"We recognize the importance of providing safe, quality care to our mothers and babies and this achievement means that new parents can count on us at this important time in their lives," Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Director of Patient Care Services Joan Culver said. "The Family Birth Center advocates for quality healthcare for women by maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice and patient satisfaction. All of our staff are focused on providing compassionate, patient centered care to ensure the best outcomes to everyone we are privileged to serve".

The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program's selection criteria was devised to close clinical care gaps and reduce inequities that persist throughout the maternal care spectrum. The selection criteria includes components of BCBSA’s Maternal Health Equity Actions, which dismantle the cultural, operational and structural barriers that have created inequities that persist in maternal care.

To be designated under this program, each applicant facility was evaluated on a combination of objective data on patient outcomes as well as the practices implemented to reduce racial disparities and improve maternal health outcomes.

"We are pleased to recognize Franciscan Health Olympia Fields for their attention to delivering high quality care that addresses maternal health," said Derek Robinson, M.D., chief medical officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. "Their Blue Distinction Specialty Care approach will help lead to healthier outcomes for members."

More information on the Franciscan Health Family Birth Center Olympia Fields, including a virtual tour, is available online or by calling 708-852-2600.

About Franciscan Alliance

The Franciscan Alliance healthcare ministry began in Lafayette, Indiana in 1875. Today, Franciscan Alliance is one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest with 12 hospital campuses, more than 19,000 employees and a number of nationally recognized Centers of Health Care Excellence. Hospitals include Franciscan Health Carmel; Franciscan Health Crawfordsville; Franciscan Health Crown Point; Franciscan Health Dyer; Franciscan Health Indianapolis; Franciscan Health Lafayette; Franciscan Health Michigan City; Franciscan Health Mooresville; Franciscan Health Munster; Franciscan Health Olympia Fields (Illinois), Franciscan Health Orthopedic Hospital (Carmel) and Franciscan Health Rensselaer.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nearly 9 million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X. 

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 IndexSM. 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 providers 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.