San Antonio Recognized for Higher Quality Knee & Hip Replacements
Named a Blue Distinction® Center (BDC) for Knee and Hip Replacement by Blue Shield of California.
UPLAND, CA – November 3, 2025 — San Antonio Regional Hospital is proud to be recognized by Blue Shield of California with a Blue Distinction® Center (BDC) for Knee and Hip Replacement designation.
This program identifies hospitals and ambulatory care centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in patient safety and deliver better health outcomes. 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 is a testament to the rigorous standards met by San Antonio Regional Hospital. Designated knee and hip replacement facilities deliver high-quality care, with an average of 21% fewer readmissions and 21% fewer complications within 90 days after knee and hip replacement surgery.
Patients treated at designated facilities benefit from the expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications making a significant difference in their overall health journey.
“We are once again honored to receive a Blue Distinction Center designation for knee and hip replacement — a recognition that highlights the exceptional skill of our orthopedic team and our unwavering commitment to patient-centered care. We are proud to lead the way in providing safe, high-quality joint replacement options close to home, so our patients can focus on what matters most — getting back to living life.”
— John Chapman, President & CEO
Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement help consumers find quality care, 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
- Participate in Blue Shield of California’s BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network
By meeting these stringent criteria, San Antonio Regional Hospital not only highlights its commitment to high quality health care 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 (AJRR) for more evidence-based performance measures and patient reported outcome measures.
“Blue Shield of California is committed to ensuring our members have access to high-quality, affordable care that leads to better outcomes,” said Alison Lum, vice president of Healthcare Quality & Affordability Performance Enablement at Blue Shield of California. “So, we are grateful to providers who consistently deliver exceptional care, at an affordable price, for our members.”
Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care 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.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit our website.
All companies and trademarks listed above are the property of their respective owners and used for identification purposes only and are in no way associated or affiliated with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Use of these trademarks does not imply endorsement. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® names and symbols and Blue Distinction® are registered trademarks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
ABOUT SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL HOSPITAL
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 Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a taxpaying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with 6 million members, over 6,500 employees and more than $27 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $60 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook.
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 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.



