"accountable care organization" entries

Technical requirements for coordinating care in an Accountable Care Organization

Report from the field by Tony McCormick

The concept of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) reflects modern hopes to improve medicine and cut costs in the health system. Tony McCormick, a pioneer in the integration of health care systems, describes what is needed on the ground to get doctors working together.

Highlights from the full video interview include:

  • What an Accountable Care Organization is. [Discussed at the 00:19 mark]
  • Biggest challenge in forming an ACO. [Discussed at the 01:23 mark]
  • The various types of providers who need to exchange data. [Discussed at the 03:08 mark]
  • Data formats and gaps in the market. [Discussed at the 03:58 mark]
  • Uses for data in ACOs. [Discussed at the 5:39 mark]
  • Problems with current Medicare funding and solutions through ACOs. [Discussed at the 7:50 mark]

You can view the entire conversation in the following video:

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The state of health IT according to the American Hospital Association

The letter conveys a rather sorrowful message about the state of health IT in the United States. One request–to put brakes on the requirement for hospitals to let patients see their own information electronically–has received particularly strong coverage and vigorous responses.

Five tough lessons I had to learn about health care

Realistic conclusions and opportunities in health care.

Despite the disappointments I've undergone in learning about health care, I expect the system to change for the better. Those who want a better system need to look at the areas where change is most likely to make a difference.

Report from Massachusetts Health IT forum

About clinical effectiveness research, EHRs, and just working
together.