January 7, 2022, UPLAND, CA –

San Antonio Regional Hospital is proud to be recognized by Blue Shield of California with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ (BDC+) for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. 

Racial and ethnic disparities are persistent and widespread across maternal healthcare, primarily driven by socioeconomic status, geographic location, and implicit provider bias. Compared to similarly developed countries such as Canada, Germany, and Australia, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate (MMR), at approximately 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, with the MMR steadily increasing since 2000¹ . According to the CDC, non-Hispanic Black women are two to three times more likely to die from preventable or treatable pregnancy-related complications compared to white women².

To help address these gaps in care and to help ensure the better health of mothers, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association enhanced its quality evaluation for the Maternity Care program to address key factors driving the United States’ maternal health crisis, such as preventable or treatable pregnancy-related conditions, high utilization of Caesarean sections, and racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare. 

“We are honored to receive this important endorsement from Blue Shield of California for the second consecutive year,” remarks Rhonda Mulvehill, Nursing Director, Maternal/Child Services at San Antonio Regional Hospital.  “We are fortunate to have an outstanding maternity care team who work together to provide every mom-to-be with a safe birthing experience that meets the highest quality standards.”  “Since 1907 generations of families have been born at San Antonio,” adds John Chapman, Chief Executive Officer at San Antonio Regional Hospital.  “Our physicians, nurses, and other maternity care team members dedicate themselves to providing equitable, compassionate maternity care that meets  stringent, evidence-based standards such as those set forth by Blue Shield of California.”

In 2020, the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care Program was expanded beyond traditional outcome measures to include assessments of internal quality improvement, data collection and dissemination, and internal protocols that better address clinical quality and equity issues in maternity care. New in the evaluation cycle, facilities must collect race ethnicity data, have a maternal quality improvement program, commence drills and simulations for adverse events, and have dedicated protocols and procedures for the management of hypertension and hemorrhage. In addition, they must meet clinical outcome metrics at a higher standard than required previously. Specifically, the rate for low risk first time cesarean sections (NTSV c-section rate, PC-02) has been aligned with the revised Healthy People 2020 goals. Facilities eligible for the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity care show statistically significant differences in key clinical outcomes compared to their peers. 

Quality is key: only those health care facilities that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally-established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.

“Blue Shield of California congratulates San Antonio Regional Hospital on their Blue Distinction® Centers for Maternity Care designation, especially as it pertains to addressing health inequities. The racial and ethnic disparities in maternal care within the U.S. are unacceptable and health care providers play an important role in addressing the underlying causes of health care disparities. I am thrilled that San Antonio Regional Hospital has been able to develop a comprehensive quality improvement program to help address and provide leadership in this crucial area,” said Jamie Chan, vice president of Clinical Quality at Blue Shield of California.

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients. 

San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland, California is a 363-bed, nonprofit, acute care hospital that combines excellent clinical care with exceptional compassion. The award-winning hospital offers a comprehensive range of general medical and surgical services, along with the latest technological advances in cardiac care, cancer care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women’s health, maternity and neonatal care, and emergency services. Founded in 1907, with only 18 beds and 5 physicians, San Antonio Regional Hospital is continually growing with its community and is now recognized as a premier regional medical facility with satellite locations across the rapidly expanding Inland Empire. Given its broad geographic reach and the depth and breadth of its services and programs, supported by the latest medical science and technology, San Antonio is a hospital of the future, offering state-of-the-art healthcare services in a healing environment focused on the patient and family. To learn more, visit sarh.org.

About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

About Blue Distinction Centers