Need for Health Information Technology in ACOs

The ACO model requires healthcare providers to exchange information and to report quality and cost data. Health information technology (HIT) can support data collection, analysis, and exchange. HIT can support ACOs in several ways:

• Sharing information between and among clinicians, patients, and others across different care settings
• Collecting and integrating data from different sources (clinical, financial, operational)
• Managing population health
• Supporting patient safety
• Maintaining strong privacy and security protections

ACOs may benefit from having access to HIT such as a shared electronic health record (EHR), patient registries, health information exchange (HIE), regional health information organization (RHIO), and data aggregation software.

Resources to Learn More

Accountable Care Organizations
Document
This journal articles provides background information on ACOs, including information on the HIT structures to support ACOs and care coordination.
Citation: Public Health Reports
Author(s): Burke, E.
Date: 11/2011