A recent report from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement titled "ACOs: A Step in the Right Direction" has made three recommendations on how the ACO model can be improved.
The report made the following recommendations.
1. Providers need to adopt a new philosophy. Physicians and organizations involved in ACOs need to adopt a philosophy to act for the individual and learn for the population because understanding what it takes to improve care for individuals provides insight into the value and cost-effectiveness of interventions that can be applied to distinct populations.
2. Peer learning needs to be utilized. Although differences exist among ACOs such as IT capabilities, payment structures and market considerations, many ACOs face common challenges. By creating and using a learning system that allows ACOs to share with and learn from one another, the organizations will be able to better realize what is and is not working.
3. There needs to be more collaboration. More opportunities need to be created for providers, payors and health IT communities to discuss their respective assets and challenges and to collaborate on common solutions concerning the ACO model.
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