(St. Louis) –Des Peres Hospital announced that it has received 4 CIGNA quality designations and 3 Centers of Excellence designations for 2008. These quality designations mean that the hospital has met rigorous quality criteria based on nationally recognized medical standards and expert advice. The Center of Excellence designations mean that the hospital met CIGNA’s highest standards for quality and efficiency.

Des Peres Hospital received the following designations:

• CIGNA Centers of Excellence designation in Angioplasty, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, and Spinal Fusion

• CIGNA Quality Designations in Heart Failure, Total Hip Replacement, Total Knee Replacement, and Adult Pneumonia

“We are pleased that our hospital has been recognized by CIGNA for the high quality care that we provide,” said Michele C. Meyer, chief executive officer of Des Peres Hospital. “Our physicians and staff work very hard to provide quality patient care, and these designations are evidence of the high standard of care we deliver every day.”

The CIGNA designations are based on the hospital’s effectiveness in treating the selected condition or performing the procedure. The designations are based in part of a hospital’s CMS Hospital Compare measures, Leapfrog Patient Safety Measures, mortality and complication rates.