Five Critical Components Of An ACO

The Advisory Board out of Washington DC has jumped headfirst into the pool around ACOs. They have some great information on their website and like any other consultants, provide some great frameworks to leverage.

One that I found helpful lays out the 5 critical IT components for developing an ACO (see image below):

1. Network Interconnectivity (Practice Management System and Electronic Medical Record integrations in my words)
2. Clinical Knowledge Management (Evidence-Based Medicine in my words)
3. Patient Activation (or Engagement)
4. Financial Operations
5. Population Risk Management (or Medical Management or Population Health Management)

I think this is a good starting point for understanding what technology you need to provide an ACO (and theoretically make money doing it).

[To see more about our physician directed Accountable Care Solutions at inVentiv Medical Management, click here. Or contact me if you’re interested in how we’re applying these to support ACO and “ACO-like” organizations in their efforts to engage consumers and drive health outcomes.]