Regional Hospital Collaboration and  Outcomes in  Medicare  @entity712  XXXX : See You in 7.

@entity1 @entity712 @entity4456 @entity580
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate an interhospital collaborative approach to improve 7-day post-discharge follow-up (7dFU) rates and reduce 30-day readmissions in @entity712 @entity1 . BACKGROUND: Early post-discharge follow-up after @entity712 ( @entity712 ) hospitalization is associated with lower 30-day readmission rates. METHODS: Observational analyses of Medicare @entity712 @entity1 discharged from 10 @entity580 ( @entity580 ) participating in the Southeast Michigan See You in 7 Collaborative were carried out. We compared pre-intervention ( @entity4456 , 2011 to April  30, 2012) and intervention ( @entity4456 , 2012-April 30, 2013) 7dFU rates, unadjusted 30-day readmissions, risk-standardized 30-day readmissions (RSRR), and Medicare payments in @entity580 and Michigan nonparticipating hospitals (NPH). RESULTS: 7dFU rates increased but remained low in both groups ( @entity580 : 31.1% to 34.4%; p  < 0.001; NPH: 30.2% to 32.6%; p  <0.001). During the intervention period, unadjusted readmissions decreased significantly in both groups ( @entity580 : 29.0% to 27.3%; p  <0.001; NPH: 26.4% to 25.8%, p  = 0.004); mean RSRR decreased more in @entity580 than in NPH ( @entity580 : 31.1% to 28.5%; p  < 0.001; NPH: 26.7% to 26.1%, p  = 0.02; p  = 0.015 for intergroup comparisons). Findings were similar when @entity580 outcomes were matched 1:1 with similar NPH outcomes. Combined Medicare payments for inpatient and 30 days of post-discharge care decreased by  182 in @entity580 and by  63 in NPH (per eligible @entity712 discharge). CONCLUSIONS: See You in 7 Collaborative participation was associated with significantly lower 30-day readmissions and Medicare payments in @entity712 @entity1 . Increases in 7dFU were modest, but associated processes aimed at this goal may  have improved the transition from inpatient to outpatient care. Regional hospital collaboration to share best practices could potentially reduce @entity712 readmissions and associated costs.
