Six Tips on Planning for ACO Technology

Jennifer Dennard, Social Marketing Director
January 19, 2011

Stephen Rosenthal, Corporate Vice President of Network Management at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, and President and CEO of Montefiore’s Care Management Co., recently sat down with Billian's HealthDATA to share several tips for selecting health information technology solutions for Accountable Care Organizations.

1. Look at where the organization currently is in its infrastructure development. Have an in-depth understanding of that.

2. Think through the organization's vision. What is the organization looking to accomplish with an ACO? Define a strategic plan and then map out the thinking behind it.

3. Build an IT infrastructure to support that vision.It doesn't pay to go out and purchase things in a hodge-podge way. HIT purchases require forethought because there are nuances that get fulfilled by different vendors for different reasons. It's important to match the technology with the strategy behind its implementation.

4. Recognize that none of this can be done overnight. It requires time, thinking and planning.

5. Don't forget about the basics when it comes to supporting new technology.A lot of organizations tend to gloss over the infrastructure required to implement new HIT systems - the stuff that's not sexy like the wires in the wall, the boiler, the servers, etc.

6. Keep in mind that what is put in place in 2011 will still have to be budgeted for and supported in 2012. Organizations will need to continue to spend money on licensing fees, support and training for HIT solutions that may become legacy systems.

To learn more about Montefiore Medical Center's journey to becoming part of an Accountable Care Organization, as well as the HIT systems that have become integral to that effort, please see " Finding the Right Fit: Montefiore's ACO Solutions."