Thought Leadership

Is the drive to promote Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) an intriguing idea of the moment or a lasting trend? If the latter, should healthcare providers make their move now, or wait until the early dust settles? That’s a big dilemma for many hospital executives who wait in limbo until more evidence surfaces. We view the ACO model as neither blip nor aberration, but rather a solid model that will grow in scope and influence as the fee-for-service paradigm diminishes.

This brief suggests four areas that hospital executives should consider to make the ACO shift successfully.

• Align the senior team with scenario-based financial modeling
• Choose carefully which capabilities to develop first
• Involve a wide group of stakeholders in designing the new model
• Start small but plan big