Rush Health Centers of Excellence for Orthopedic and Spine Surgeries to Offer Cost Effective Care Options for United Airlines Employees

Newswise — (CHICAGO) – Rush Health established a partnership to provide orthopedic and spine surgeries to United Airline employees. Under this arrangement, known as a direct employer contract, United employees and family members across the United States will be able to receive spinal fusion and hip and knee replacement surgeries at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and in the future at other Rush Health facilities. The program is established through Rush Health’s Centers of Excellence (COE) program, which enables employers to partner with some of the world’s leading specialists to provide the highest quality care at less cost to the employee.

Rush Health Centers of Excellence deliver high quality at lower costRush Health already provides the orthopedic and spine COE program to other national employers who know that the health benefits they provide have a positive impact on employee well-being. Employees who receive surgery at Rush Health facilities are not responsible for copayment and coinsurance costs, in addition travel expenses to and from these hospitals are paid for by the company. The goals of the COE program are to provide better coverage, to keep employee’s health costs low, and to make sure employees have more health care options.

“This partnership reflects our organization and our providers’ commitment to working together to deliver world class care at an affordable price,” said Brent Estes, president and chief executive officer of Rush Health. “COE patients have a fixed rate for all medical services related to their surgery, as well as protection against re-admissions, which encourages collaboration among physicians and hospitals, and promotes efforts to reduce avoidable complications.”

Rush Health’s direct employer contractsRush Health is among a small number of clinically integrated networks across the nation that include a nationally recognized and leading academic medical center, such as Rush University Medical Center. Rush is also one of a few care providers that have the capability to provide care through direct employer contracts. Such partnerships are growing in popularity as large companies seek to reduce employee health costs.

“This partnership underscores a commitment to employee satisfaction through excellence, integrity and initiative,” Estes said. “The Centers of Excellence program is expected to produce better outcomes which translate into happy, healthy employees.”

Rush Health was the first Chicago-area health provider to establish direct employer contracts with large U.S. companies. Additionally, Rush University Medical Center’s orthopedics program ranked sixth in the country and the highest in Illinois for the past two years in U.S. News and World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” issue.

About Rush HealthRush Health is a collaborative, member-based network of Chicago-area physicians and hospitals, working together to improve health through high quality, efficient health services covering the spectrum of patient care from wellness, prevention and health promotion to disease management and complex care management. Members include more than 1,300 member physicians, and four hospitals in the greater Chicago area: Rush University Medical Center in Chicago; Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park and Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.About RushRush is a not-for-profit enterprise that includes Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Health. The mission of Rush is to provide the best health care for the individuals and diverse communities we serve through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research, and community partnerships.