The project, called the Michigan State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations, aims to reduce readmissions and rehospitalizations within 30 days of discharge by 30 percent by enhancing communication and follow-up during patient care transitions. A representative sample of Michigan hospitals currently participate in a pilot of the project.
In 2009, Michigan was one of three states selected to participate in the project by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The other states —Massachusetts and Washington — will also expand their projects this year.
The project, which is being coordinated by Michigan’s Quality Improvement Organization and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality, provides participating facilities with an understanding of the underlying issues that lead to avoidable rehospitalizations, as well as how to implement interventions and redesign processes to reduce them, according to the release.
Reducing readmissions is even more important for hospitals since the passing of the healthcare reform law. Effective in Oct. 2012, Medicare reimbursement will be reduced for certain readmissions and rehospitalizations. Notably, hospitals will not only be penalized for readmissions to their own facility, but also when their former patients are rehospitalized in other facilities.
Read the MHA release on the readmissions project (pdf).
Read more coverage on hospital readmissions:
– One-Quarter of Hospital Patients Readmitted Within Two Years
– Hospitals Readmit 10% of Medicaid Patients Within 30 Days
– Hospitals in New CMS Pilot Starting to See Readmissions Fall
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