East Jefferson Internal Medicine Named State Leader in Kidney Care by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) has awarded East Jefferson Internal Medicine with the 2014 Highest Achievement in Kidney Care in Louisiana distinction during its recent Quality Blue Primary Care Statewide Collaborative ceremony. Physicians from East Jefferson Internal Medicine highlighted for their effectiveness in treating kidney disease were Dr. Blaise Angelico and Dr. Robert Pollock. This first-time event honors clinics throughout Louisiana that demonstrate clinical excellence and higher levels of patient outcomes in the most prevalent, chronic conditions including kidney disease, vascular care, hypertension, and diabetes.

“We always look for innovative approaches to improve the care we deliver to our patients, and I congratulate our physicians, and in particular, Drs. Angelico and Pollock. As a group, the physicians of East Jefferson Internal Medicine performed well on this particular measure, and Drs. Pollock and Angelico led the way. By implementing the medical treatments and protocols that are most successful in managing chronic diseases, we are able to improve the quality of life and health of our patients. We are extremely proud that our approach places us as a state leader and look forward to continual improvement in providing quality patient care,” said Dr. Sidney “Beau” Raymond, Chair of East Jefferson General Hospital Chapter for Gulf South Quality Network.

BCBSLA launched its Quality Blue Primary Care (QBPC) Program on the framework that when patients’ health quality results are improved, healthcare expenses are also reduced. The QBPC is therefore a population health and quality improvement program for primary care physicians that optimizes patient care delivery. In QBPC, BCBSLA contracts with primary care physicians and provides, free of charge, a web-based, patient-centric information tool to support the QBPC program. This tool improves the identification and management of chronic diseases that are prevalent and burdensome while providing practices with data and resources that enable proactive, efficient, high-quality care.

“In Louisiana, we suffer some of the worst health results related to chronic conditions. About half of adults have at least one chronic condition, and these patients represent up to 70% of medical costs,” said Dr. David Carmouche, BCBSLA Executive Vice President for External Operations and Chief Medical Officer.

He went on to say that Blue Cross invested in Quality Blue Primary Care to put new resources and tools into the doctors’ hands so they can better understand and take care of their patients, especially those with chronic diseases. “This program is a tremendous opportunity to begin reversing our state’s historically poor health rankings, and the early results show it’s working,” he said.

About East Jefferson General Hospital

East Jefferson General Hospital is a publicly-owned, not-for-profit community hospital. This service district hospital, formed in 1965, receives no tax support from Jefferson Parish. The 420-bed hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is Louisiana’s first Nurse Magnet hospital. For more information on East Jefferson General Hospital, visit online at ejgh.org.