Accountable Care Growing Fast

eClinicalWorks recently conducted a survey with responses from 2,100 healthcare professionals in the United States, nearly 700 of them physicians, highlighting motivators, challenges and tools for those pursuing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) and other risk-based or shared savings programs. More than half (53%) of respondents currently participate in one of the referenced programs. Among those who do not, approximately one-third (34%) anticipate their organization becoming part of an ACO, PCMH or shared-savings plan in the next three years.

According to the survey, the primary motivator for becoming an ACO or PCMH is to improve patient outcomes (66%). That consideration is seconded by two separate motivators: being able to better utilize resources across the health care system (41%) and maintaining market share (40%).

The below infographic outlines the tools respondents looked for to meet the goals and requirements of these care models. One point worth noting is that when asked what features or capabilities of healthcare information technology systems might be valued by an ACO or PCMH, nearly all organizations with or considering an ACO or PCMH believe that integration with the electronic health records (EHR) system is important (95%) to create quality outcomes for patients. Even more telling is the intensity of importance placed upon EHR. A majority consider this “very important” (82%).