Guide highlights ACO benefits, challenges for hospitals

A new guide by the AHA’s Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence initiative and Leavitt Partners outlines the potential benefits and challenges for hospitals participating in accountable care organizations. “Large health care systems, stand-alone hospitals and integrated delivery systems all have entered into ACO contracts and have seen promising results,” the authors note. “Adoption of an ACO model requires substantive changes for hospitals but also represents an opportunity to improve the delivery of care.” The free guide was developed with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.