Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital recognized for higher-quality and cost-effective knee and hip replacements

Released: Friday, April 24, 2026 10:00 AM

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital recognized for higher-quality and cost-effective knee and hip replacements

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH) is proud to be recognized by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York with a Blue Distinction^® Centers+ (BDC+) for Knee and Hip Replacement designation.

This program identifies hospitals and ambulatory care centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in patient safety, deliver better health outcomes, and are more cost-effective. 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 MFSH. 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. Designated facilities also achieve cost savings of 30% for knee and hip replacements compared to all other facilities for that specialty care area.

Patients treated at designated facilities benefit from the expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications making a positive difference in their overall health journey.

"We are very proud of the work done by our orthopaedic surgeons and surgical team to earn this recognition for knee and hip replacements," said Raheel Ahmad, chief medical officer at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. "They are committed to providing high quality care and work collaboratively to prepare patients before, during and after surgery to ensure the best outcomes and recovery."

Blue Distinction Centers+ for Knee and Hip Replacement help consumers find both quality and value for their health 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 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network
  
  

By meeting these stringent criteria, Millard Fillmore Suburban 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 for evidence-based performance measures and patient reported outcome measures.

Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care-and, for those that meet the program's cost criteria, 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, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the quality of care they deliver.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit the 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 Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital is a 265-bed community hospital and a subsidiary of Kaleida Health, Western New York's largest healthcare provider. The hospital offers services in cardiac electrophysiology, emergency medicine, family practice, general surgery, geriatrics, internal medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, neonatology, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, and urology. The hospital also supports residency-training programs of the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in anesthesiology, critical care, emergency medicine, general surgery, urology, obstetrics and gynecology and family practice. For more information, visit https://www.kaleidahealth.org/suburban

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 Index^SM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.

About Blue Distinction CentersBlue 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 https://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.