How Ready Are Hospitals to Participate in Accountable Care Organizations?
<p>A new nationwide survey of nearly 1,700 hospitals finds that 13 percent are participating in, or planning to participate in, accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the next year. The results of the survey are discussed in a new <a href="/publications/issue-briefs/2012/aug/hospitals-path-accountable-care-highlights-2011-national-survey">issue brief</a> by researchers at The Commonwealth Fund and the Health Research and Educational Trust. </p><p>The results also show that hospitals already involved with ACOs are improving the coordination of patient care and doing a better job of ensuring safe transitions among care settings—both hallmarks of the ACO model. At the same time, it’s clear that hospitals will need to strengthen their capacity to undertake population-based care and to fully assume financial risk for the patient population for which they are accountable. </p>
<p>Read more about the survey findings on <a href="/publications/issue-briefs/2012/aug/hospitals-path-accountable-care-highlights-2011-national-survey">commonwealthfund.org</a>.</p>