AmericAn HospitAl AssociAtion

A new era in care delivery has been emerging as providers focus on improving the patient care experience, enhancing care quality and lowering the cost of patient care. An emphasis on population health has provided the foundation for greater collaboration among providers and the development of coordinated care models. These new models often are “value-based” and providers are at financial risk if quality and cost goals are not achieved. The need to transform health care delivery has stimulated hospitals and hospital systems to integrate among themselves and with other providers across the care continuum by unifying patient information, better coordinating transitions and follow-up care, sharing financial risk and streamlining management services. Even as regulatory barriers continue to constrain the pace of innovation, these efforts are expanding and are achieving promising results in terms of improving the patient care experience, quality and efficiency.