Ann Arbor area physicians groups participate in University of Michigan-led effort to reduce readmissions
Ann Arbor physicians groups will participate in a statewide initiative to reduce hospital readmissions.
The “Michigan Transitions of Care Collaborative” is a partnership between the University of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Society of Hospital Medicine.
The goal of the collaborative for participating physician groups and hospitals is to share best practices for reducing the incidence of patients readmitted to the hospital or the emergency room within 30 days of being discharged.
The University of Michigan Health System and Integrated Health Associates, a physicians group in the Ann Arbor area, which partners with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, will be among 15 participants.
A study in the April 2009 New England Journal of Medicine showed about one in five hospitalized patients are readmitted to the hospital within a month of their discharge and nationally unplanned readmissions cost Medicare $17.4 billion annually, according to a release.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.