Accountable Care Organizations: Consistently Delivering Quality Care and Better Outcomes
The continued rising cost for health care ranks high on the list of concerns for corporate executives, business owners and most medical consumers. To counter escalating costs, many companies must raise employee premiums and trim health benefit plans. Unfortunately, this cost-control strategy is not a sustainable solution nor will it improve quality of care for anyone. There is, however, a promising and proven solution available now the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that offers both quality care and cost savings.
Practiced for decades, an ACO is a team of physicians, nurses and specialists working together to coordinate the best care for their patients with an intense focus on evidence- based medicine and wellness. Some of America's leading ACO providers include Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Cleveland Clinic, Geisinger and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.
Focused on affordable, high-quality care, the Accountable Care Organization delivers quality care cost-effectively, and is accountable for its results on quality measures, patient satisfaction and the total cost of care. The coordination of care across multiple specialties and different care settings is empowered by advanced technologies, including electronic medical record systems which eliminate duplicative medical testing. Most importantly, an ACO is incentivized for improving care, not driving more of it.
Our nation's health care system is on life support and proven solutions are needed. The Accountable Care model is a proven and viable solution to our current health care system's problems. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has delivered accountable, coordinated care to citizens for more than 60 years and is the first and longest standing ACO in Houston.