Recognizing the superior outcomes and collaborative care delivered by its Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine teams.
Brain and Spine Institute
UConn Health's Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine teams have earned the 2025 Blue Distinction® Center+ (BDC+) designation for Spine Surgery, a national recognition from Blue Cross Blue Shield plans awarded to hospitals that deliver high-quality, effective, and patient-centered spine care.
The Blue Distinction® Centers for Spine Surgery program evaluates hospitals based on rigorous national criteria, including complication and readmission rates, patient-reported outcomes, evidence-based clinical processes, and data submitted through the American Spine Registry (ASR). Programs that demonstrate strong cost-efficiency may also be recognized as Blue Distinction Centers+.
This year's Spine designation reflects a truly collaborative accomplishment between UConn Health's Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine teams that contribute significantly and strategically to maintaining and elevating that standard.
This year's Spine designation reflects a truly collaborative accomplishment between UConn Health's Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine teams that contribute significantly and strategically to maintaining and elevating that standard.
"We are honored to receive this year's Blue Distinction+ designation because it reflects not only strong outcomes, but the unified spine program we've built at UConn Health," said Dr. Isaac Moss, chair of Orthopedic Surgery and co-director of the Comprehensive Spine Center.
"Our Comprehensive Spine Center was founded by Dr. Hilary Onyiuke, and today is a model center of multidisciplinary care that optimizes patient outcomes and transforms future care of our patients. This recognition highlights the value of that collaboration," says Dr. Ketan Bulsara, chair of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Hilary Onyiuke, co-director of the Comprehensive Spine Center and vice chair Neurosurgery, noted that coordinated care is at the core of the program's success. "Patients benefit most when specialists work as one team," he said. "Our shared protocols including Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and comprehensive screening practices help patients recover faster, experience fewer complications, and receive the highest-quality spine care."
Evaluating Quality and Value
The 2025 Blue Distinction® Centers for Spine Surgery program focuses on elective spine procedures for adult degenerative conditions, such as cervical or lumbar fusion and laminectomy. Hospitals are evaluated on:
- Outcomes: lower complication and readmission rates, improved functional status
- Processes: use of ERAS pathways, mental health and substance-use screening, and patient-centered care practices
- Data quality: standardized reporting through the American Spine Registry
- Cost-efficiency: BDC+ also met cost measures that address consumers' need for affordable healthcare.
For patients, the designation offers a reliable way to identify providers committed to delivering safe, effective, and often more affordable spine care.
"Earning this recognition not only reflects our strong performance today," Dr. Moss added, "but reinforces our commitment to continuously improving the spine care experience for every patient who comes through our doors." "This type of collaborative care exemplifies why UConn Health provides care second to none" says Dr. Onyiuke.
