[Atlanta, Ga.] - [November 30, 2005] – Atlanta Medical Center announced today that it has been designated a UnitedHealth Premium (sm) cardiac specialty center, reflecting national recognition of the cardiac care it provides. 

“We have always been proud of the quality care we deliver to our patients,” said William T. Moore, chief executive officer, Atlanta Medical Center.  “Our staff works hard to ensure that patient care is a top priority, and this recognition offers further evidence of the high standard of cardiac care we deliver every day.”

The UnitedHealth Premium designation program for cardiac care identifies hospitals and specialists nationwide that are leaders in providing cardiac care.  Hospitals are invited to apply for the designation. 

“All hospitals are not the same.  Where you go makes a difference in the type and quality of the care you receive,” said Lewis Sandy, M.D., an internist and executive vice president of clinical strategies at UnitedHealthcare.  “Patients who require cardiac care need to know that they are getting the best treatment.  These centers have been selected from hospitals in our network using criteria built on nationally recognized medical standards and expert independent physician advice.” 

The UnitedHealth Premium program evaluates and recognizes specific hospital and physician capabilities.  These capabilities include their quality processes, adherence to evidenced-based approaches, compliance with nationally recognized guidelines published by clinical societies and their broad capabilities to handle cardiac illness and its treatment through a continuum of stages.  The program also measures hospital efficiency by analyzing the aggregate cost of care at an individual patient level for a complete treatment episode. 

The UnitedHealth Premium program will conduct an annual review of [hospital name]’s performance against independently created criteria. 

“We look forward to continually demonstrating our commitment to quality patient care,” said Moore.