The successful development of a subacute care service associated with a large academic health system.

Ensuring the safe transition of patients from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities and from skilled nursing facilities back to the hospital or the community can present significant challenges. The University of Michigan Health System was able to overcome many of these challenges through the implementation of a health system associated Subacute Care Service that consists of the University of Michigan Health System geriatricians and nurse practitioners working in privately operated skilled nursing facilities in our primary market area. We describe the planning process surrounding the development of the Subacute Care Service and report on efforts to date.