tion of collaborative initiatives
among Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Michigan and hospitals and
physicians throughout the state,"
says David A. Share, M.D., M.P.H.,
senior associate medical director,
BCBSM.
"Each initiative brings health
professionals together to carefully
examine health care practice,
generate new knowledge about
which practices yield the best
outcomes, and systematically
apply that knowledge so that
quality of care improves, health
care costs are lower and patients
receive the best care possible."
Participating hospitals ranged
in size from small community
hospitals to large university and
community hospitals with more
than 1,000 beds. The data were
collected from July 1, 2007, to
June 30, 2008.
The patient database assembled
to support this quality improve-
ment work represents the largest
registry in the world of informa-
tion about coronary CT angiogra-
phy. The protocols developed for
this project can be used by other
hospitals and imaging facilities
to reduce radiation exposure
for their patients. There is also
potential to apply the same dose-
reduction strategies when scan-
ning other parts of the body.
In addition to Beaumont, the
Michigan hospitals in the project
were: Borgess Medical Center;
Henry Ford Hospital; Hillsdale
Community Health Center;
Lakeland Regional Health System;
Marquette General Health System;
Mercy Health Partners-Hackley
Campus; Mercy Memorial;
Oakwood Hospital; Pontiac
Osteopathic Hospital; St. John
Hospital and Medical Center; St.
John Macomb; St. John Oakland;
St. John Providence Hospital; and
Sparrow Health System.
The project has since grown to
include 35 participating hospitals
and five physician practices.
Beaumont's cardiovascular
imaging program is supported
by philanthropists J. Peter and
Florine Ministrelli of West
Bloomfield, Mich., including an
endowed chair in cardiovascular
research held by Dr. Raff.
A Beaumont doctor
is only 5 minutes away.
If it's been more than a year
since you've had an annual physical,
don't put it off another day.
Nov more Beaumont doctors
are dose to you.
Call 800.633.7377.
Beaumont Hospitals
Providing Quality Care to our Patients
Our Center offers a sate, convenient
alternative to having your procedure
performed at a hospital
We are a state of the art
Ambulatory Surgery Center
Offering the following services:
Orthopaedics
EN.T.
Ophthalmology
0 Colon & Rectal
g
Colonoscopv
Gastroscopv
General Surgery
Our physicians
must meet stringent
credentialirig and
pri- uileging criteria to
be a member of the
Medical Staff.
Our professional staff
is highly trained to
protride you with the
highest quality care
during your stay
with us.
a, Gynecology
OCosmetic Surgery
• Podiatry
West Bloomfield
Ambulatory Surgery
Center, LLC
(248) 406-2400
6900 Orchard Lake Road
Lower Level Suite 100
West Bloomfield, Ml 48322
(Across from the Boardwalk)
-
Ilene Wolff is a media relations
specialist and Web editor with Royal
,
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Oak-based Beaumont Hospitals.
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