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Previously, we discussed what a CIN is and how it can relate to an ACO.
Clinically integrated networks (CIN) and accountable care organizations (ACO) are two types of structured networks that can help independent physicians, hospitals and other providers improve care services and legally negotiate with payers.
Tangible Solutions recently announced a partnership with Georgia Health Connect, a mission-based Service Area Health Information Exchange created by The National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine. This new relationship is the perfect example of how networks powered by tailored technologies can provide superior care to the communities they serve.
Deliver relevant health information when it’s needed
Offering comprehensive care outside of major metropolitan areas presents several difficult challenges. Patients may have to drive long distances to see a specialist and often need to go outside of their typical network to receive needed care.
Rural practices also tend to have less access to advanced technologies. Independent physicians especially struggle to stay relevant and up-to-date, hindered by the prohibitive costs of technology upgrades.
CINs and ACOs provide the scaffolding on which to build toward more meaningful outcomes, better payment rates and lower compliance risks. According to researchers from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, most rural ACOs are built onto an existing CIN.
By pooling resources, these networks can acquire leading-edge technology that helps important health data get to where it needs to go, when it needs to be there. This helps providers deliver precise care to those who need it most.
CINs and ACOs can give rural practices access to cutting-edge technologies.Help independent practices support themselves
CINs and ACOs help independent physicians support themselves, allowing them to stay autonomous while receiving the benefits of taking part in a larger organization.
Using health technology in meaningful ways means improving patient engagement and outcomes. Doing so helps smaller practices protect and augment their revenue cycles while avoiding penalties from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).
The American Hospital Association reported these organizational frameworks help doctors in rural parts of the country stay independent while providing more opportunities for physician leadership and engagement. In other words, with the support of a larger network, physicians can better meet patient needs while remaining in control of their practices.
Supporting rural providers in Georgia
The new partnership between Georgia Health Connect and Tangible Solutions will benefit clinical outcomes and quality of care for patients who rely on rural and critical access hospitals in Georgia.
“By working together, Georgia Health Connect and Tangible Solutions will be able to focus on connecting immediate communities of healthcare providers who represent front-line care resources for patients outside Georgia’s metro areas,” said Dr. Dominic H. Mack, director of the National Center for Primary Care and associate professor of family medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. “Beyond initial installation, the two organizations have an excellent plan to make supporting and upgrading practice systems feasible and sustainable. This will also help the more remote physicians’ offices and clinics to connect to statewide services.”
It’s an exciting time for physicians in the Georgia Health Connect network who will now be able to provide excellent care to thousands of patients every day.
