Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative

Medical Specialty Societies

MBSC is a quality collaborative that improves the science and practice of metabolic and bariatric surgery through patient-centered obesity care.

“The ArborMetrix team is always available and willing to help member hospitals meet their goals and to support the needs of the registry.”

Amir Ghaferi, M.D., M.S.

Program Director, Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative

Customer Since

2011

Clinical Registry Use Cases

Quality Improvement Research

Harnessing Data to Advance Science, Improve Outcomes

The Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative aims to advance the science and practice of bariatric surgery. The program is a unique partnership between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, researchers at the University of Michigan, and clinicians from 39 bariatric surgery programs across the state.1

The goals and objectives of MBSC include:2

  • Eliminate intravenous filter use.
  • Reduce rate of emergency department visits and readmissions.
  • Reduce complications.
  • Implement venous thromboembolism prophylaxis guidelines.
  • Prevent surgical site infections.
  • Assess and improve surgeon technical skill.

MBSC’s custom-built registry is powered and fully supported on the ArborMetrix platform. The partnership dates back to 2011, when MBSC became ArborMetrix’s first customer. Since the initial configuration of the registry, ArborMetrix has supported MBSC in powering additional features and functionality such as outcomes calculators, patient-reported outcomes, and video surgical analysis, and in establishing it as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry.

Research and quality improvement efforts of the collaborative have resulted in significant reductions in mortality and complication rates following bariatric surgery in Michigan. MBSC and its members have published noteworthy research in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Annals of Surgery, among other leading journals. MBSC has also been featured multiple times in the New York Times.

Featured Results

MBSC and its members have collectively achieved outstanding, life-saving results and greatly enhanced care for their patients. A few highlights include:

  • Decreased post-surgical death rates by 67% from 2007 to 2016. Michigan mortality rates following bariatric surgery are now a fraction of the national average.
  • Increased compliance with blood clot guidelines to 84% from 2007 to 2016.
  • Decreased the pre-operative IVC filter placement rate from 7.65% to 0.26% from 2007 to 2016.
  • Decreased readmissions by 20% from 2007 to 2016.
  • Decreased overall complication rates by 44% from 2007 to 2016.
  • Saved $34.9 million statewide, and saved $11.8 million for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan from 2008 to 2013.

Learn more about MBSC at michiganbsc.org.

References

1. MBSC Website. Accessed June 2017. http://michiganbsc.org/

2. 2017 Collaborative Quality Initiative Fact Sheet: Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative. Accessed June 2017.