Providers of Distinction

The state of Connecticut has designated certain hospitals, doctors, providers and locations as members of the Providers of Distinction. These members have all met strict standards for medical quality, while agreeing to fixed prices to the state plan for eligible conditions and procedures.

How Quality is Measured

The main determination of quality is the likelihood of complications during procedures. Providers and locations (like doctors and hospitals) that avoid infections, repeat procedures and hospital readmissions score higher. These complications are also referred to as Actionable Adverse Events (AAEs). Each Provider of Distinction procedure (hip replacement, colonoscopy, etc.) has its own unique set of measurable events that could negatively affect the patient, such as injury or illness contracted in the hospital and other patient safety failures, complications related to the initial procedure (wound infections, bleeding, etc.), and readmissions. Most adverse events that occur during or after a procedure can be avoided. Complications and their magnitude vary by procedure.

Examples of Actionable Adverse Events (AAEs)

Providers of Distinction members are scored by calculating the rate and severity of adverse events by procedure. To earn the Provider of Distinction designation, providers must have lower-than-average adverse events. In order to participate, eligible providers must commit to maintaining or improving their quality performance and efficiency in providing care for specific procedures. Maternity care has its own unique set of quality measures that includes appropriateness of care, gaps in care and the successful outcome of procedures and delivery.