Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital Earns Blue Distinction+ Center Designation for Spine Surgery
DES MOINES, IA (May 4, 2026) — Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital has received a Blue Distinction® Center+ (BDC+) designation for Spine Surgery by Wellmark® Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
This program identifies hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in patient safety and deliver better health outcomes. 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 Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital. Designated facilities provide high-quality care, with an average of 28% fewer readmissions and 29% fewer complications within 90 days after spine surgery. BDC+ designated facilities also achieve cost savings of 23% for spine surgery 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 deeply honored to receive the Blue Distinction® Center+ designation from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but more than that, we’re incredibly proud of the people behind it. At Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital, this recognition represents the long hours, the quiet moments of compassion, and the unwavering commitment our team brings to every patient, every single day.
This isn’t just an award for us. It’s a reflection of a team that truly cares, that pushes for better outcomes, and that shows up with heart. Our employees, physicians, providers, doctors, certified nurse anesthetists, and surgeons are the reason this hospital is what it is, and they deserve to be celebrated. We share this honor with them, and with every patient who has trusted us to be part of their journey.”
Blue Distinction Centers+ for Spine Surgery help consumers find both quality and value for their spinal care needs, while also encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall delivery of care nationwide.
Among other criteria, to receive a designation, facilities must:
By meeting these criteria, Sioux Falls Specialty 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 our 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 Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Wellmark, Inc., is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. As a mutual insurance company, we're owned by our policy holders across Iowa and South Dakota. More than two million people in Iowa and South Dakota are covered by a Wellmark health plan. We work hard every day to make health care better as a trusted, innovative and inclusive leader committed to improving the health of the people and communities we serve. Learn more at Wellmark.com.
About Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital
Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital (SFSH) is on a mission to provide service excellence to patients. Since 1985, SFSH has employed the best technologies and innovative procedures for patient treatment, including robotic-assisted surgical technology, high-field 3T MRI, and open upright MRI scanners. As a 5-Star patient-rated hospital according to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS), SFSH continues to set the standard for other Sioux Falls hospitals to follow. The independent owner philosophy enables SFSH to score high in patient satisfaction consistently. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 90% of patients rate SFSH a 9 or 10 when rating their hospital experience. In addition to their top-notch surgical services, SFSH provides Sioux Falls Urgent Care for those unexpected health concerns, expert Physical Therapy to support recovery, and the dedicated primary care and family medicine expertise of Dr. Brad Hruby. SFSH is the Sioux Falls leader in innovative and personalized care. Visit sfsh.com to learn more.
For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.
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 IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.
About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A local Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) company may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your local BCBS company. 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 BCBS company. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two local BCBS company’s areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own local BCBS company’s decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on 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 BCBS company and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross Blue Shield Association nor any BCBS company are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers