UNMC’s hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, and Methodist Health System, have joined together to form the Accountable Care Alliance.
The partnership — which includes both health systems’ affiliated physicians — will reduce costs to patients and improve quality and efficiency of patient care across both health systems.
The Accountable Care Alliance will be structured like an accountable care organization, one of the models under consideration by the federal government as a way to reduce health care costs.
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“The two health systems complement each other well,” said Peter Whitted, M.D., former chief of staff at The Nebraska Medical Center and Accountable Care Alliance board member. “Methodist Health System and The Nebraska Medical Center have been friendly competitors, now the accountable care organization will give us a model to break down barriers to provide the best care for our patients.”
Patients with chronic conditions and patients who are frequently readmitted to the hospital will especially benefit. The Accountable Care Alliance can help to:
- Increase communication between doctors and hospitals;
- Reduce duplication of services;
- Limit unnecessary tests;
- Make sure transitions from hospital to home are better managed; and
- Help patients maintain good health in their homes to reduce hospital utilization.
The Accountable Care Alliance also will allow both health systems to share knowledge and performance criteria to ensure both health systems are performing at their best and providing the highest level of quality care.
“For example, if Methodist was seeing a higher number of patients with post-operative infections than The Nebraska Medical Center, Methodist can learn from what is driving the medical center’s good outcomes and adopt those best practices in our health system as well,” said William Shiffermiller, M.D., chief medical officer at Methodist Health System and Accountable Care Alliance board member.