6 Keys to Successfully Fitting Healthcare Information Technology Into Accountable Care Organizations

SOURCE: Beckers Hospital Review

The new healthcare reform law has resulted in the emergence of accountable care organizations, a new model that focuses on enhancing clinical outcomes and reducing monetary waste in the healthcare system. The ACO model is built on the premise of providing quality care with nontraditional payment models, such as gainsharing or bundled payments.

Occurring alongside the advent of ACOs is the increased move toward adoption of electronic medical records. Starting in 2011, eligible healthcare providers can receive incentive payments if they are able to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records and meet criteria set by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Here, Jordan Battani, principal at CSC Health Services, shares six success factors for ACOs and describes the healthcare IT that is necessary to meet those goals.

1. ACO member engagement. ACOs must work toward engaging patient members in such a way that encourages them to participate in their care and in the prevention of their care. Ms. Battani says what’s hard for hospitals and other healthcare providers within any ACO model is adopting a more long-term view of the health status of those assigned to the ACO. “When you move into the ACO world, the big conceptual transition is being aware of your members long before they get to the point where they have to use health services and helping them manage their health with the idea they never have to access health services,” she says.

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