Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), in collaboration with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the Society of Hospital Medicine, has selected 15 physician organizations to take part in a statewide initiative to reduce hospital readmissions and ER visit for Michiganders.

The Michigan Transitions of Care Collaborative will train and mentor hospital staffs to implement and develop programs that will help prevent 30-day hospital readmission rates. According to the Detroit-based BCBSM, almost $17.4 billion in Medicare costs is spent per year on hospital readmissions, and according to research in the New England Journal of Medicine in April, one in five patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge.

"Participating physician groups and hospitals will share best practices and key learnings, leading to improvements in quality and safety for Michigan patients,” said Christopher Kim, MD, at the University of Michigan.

The following organizations have been chosen to participate in the initiative:

• Beaumont Physicians Organization, Beaumont in Royal Oak, Mich.;
• Bronson Medical Group, Bronson Methodist in Kalamazoo, Mich.;
• CIPA, Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital in St. Pontiac, Mich.;
• Greater Macomb PHO, Clinton Township Hospital in Clinton, Mich.;
• Henry Ford Medical Group, Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, Mich.;
• HVPA, St.Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich.;
• Integrated Health Associates, St.Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich.;
• Medical Network One, Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, Mich.;
• Physician Care Network, Port Huron Hospital in Port Huron, Mich.;
• Primary Healthcare Partners (Covenant) in Covenant and Saginaw, Mich.;
• Professional Medical, Hurley Hospital in Flint, Mich.;
• RDN West Michigan (Metro Health PHO) in Byron Center, Mich.;
• Sparrow Medical Group, Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich.;
• University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.; and
• West Michigan Physicians Network, Spectrum in Grand Rapids, Mich.