Accountable care organizations: a strategy for future success?
International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior
ISSN: 1093-4537
Article publication date: 11 June 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the community dynamics and organizational characteristics of US hospitals that participate in accountable care organizations (ACO).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were obtained from the 2015 American Hospital Association annual survey and the 2015 medicare final rule standardizing file. The study evaluated 785 hospitals which operate ACO in contrast to 1,446 hospitals without an ACO.
Findings
In total, 89 percent of hospitals using ACO’s are located in urban communities and 87 percent are not-for-profit. Hospitals with a higher case mix index are more likely to have an ACO.
Practical implications
ACOs allow healthcare organizations to expand their geographic markets, achieve greater efficiencies, and enhance the development of new clinical services. They also shift the focus of care from acute care hospitalization to the full continuum of care.
Originality/value
This research found ACOs with hospital and physician networks are an effective mechanism to control healthcare costs and reduce medical errors.
Keywords
Citation
Harrison, J., Spaulding, A. and Harrison, D.A. (2018), "Accountable care organizations: a strategy for future success?", International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 113-121. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-03-2018-0019
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited