Advanced use of an electronic health record system and an implementation strategy for health information exchange are essential to building a successful accountable care organization, according to a report released last week by the Commonwealth Fund, EHR Intelligence reports (Murphy, EHR Intelligence, 12/17).
Methodology
For the report, researchers analyzed 59 health systems of different sizes, characteristics and locations.
To address a lack of data on readiness to implement ACOs, researchers developed a “capabilities framework” tool that included components such as population health data management (Manos, Healthcare IT News, 12/17).
Report Findings
According to the report, “[d]evelopment of underlying information technology was found to be [an] element necessary for accountable care.”
It added, “This technology goes beyond electronic health records and health information exchanges and enables the integration of disparate data, analysis of data across a patient population, stratification of financial and clinical risk in the population, and measurement of the impact of targeted interventions.”
The report found than an IT infrastructure “that can support data mining is key, as monitoring a patient population’s health care quality, spending and utilization is fundamental to operating an ACO effectively.”
According to the report, financial resources to invest in such an IT infrastructure are essential (Hall, FierceHealthIT, 12/18).
The report added that since few organizations across the U.S. have achieved advanced use of EHRs and health data exchange, it is too soon to predict where the technology will reduce costs and improve care (EHR Intelligence, 12/17).
Source: iHealthBeat
