Topic – Accountable Care Organizations

Assignment Guidelines:

A. Healthcare Trend/Issue Analysis & Synthesis Paper

Topic – Accountable Care Organizations

• Investigate ‘Accountable Care Organizations’ through print and electronic media.

Review data that would help describe and substantiate the context of the trend/issue and the variables that affect the trend/issue. Project what you believe will occur in the coming years regarding the chosen trend/issue. Analyze the trend/issue with specific focus on the following levers of change impact the trend/issue:
• historical background of the trend
• contextual – socio/economic/financial/political environments
• technology and scientific advancements
• health care providers/ health care delivery; regulatory as applicable

Be specific and use current web, blog, and/or traditional print material (newspapers, academic journals; magazines such as Time or US News and World Report) to support your position. The criteria are as follows:
• Lever Overviews – Description of the trend/issue and contextual issues as related to the levers. Supporting evidence is provided to substantiate your assertions. Use a minimum of five sources for each lever overview section.
• The entire lever overviews section should total 6 pages minimum.
• • Historical
• Contextual (socio/economic/financial/political environments)
• Technology/scientific
• Health care providers/health care delivery; regulatory as applicable
• Synthesis Section – The purpose of this section is to synthesize a position to ACOs (which influence my role as a nurse leader. The synthesis section should total 4pages
• Based on the overviews you developed, analyze how levers of change affect the selected trend/issue.
• Based on the overviews you developed, predict/project and discuss three scenarios your trend/issue will take. Use terminology from Health and Healthcare 2010: The forecast, the challenge “Stormy Weather, The Long and Winding Road, and Sunny Side of the Street.”
• Discuss how this trend impacts you or will impact you as a nurse leader; AND vice versa – how you as a nurse leader can impact this trend. Include consideration of this trend/issue from a Christian/Ethical worldview.
• The paper is to be written in APA format and your writing should be of high professional quality.
• Length: 10 pages (exclusive of cover page and reference page; see above for recommended length of each section).

References
Fisher, E., McClellan, M., Bertko, J. & Lieberman, S. (2009). Fostering accountable health care: Moving forward in Medicare. Health Affairs, 28(2), 219-231.
Devers, K. & Berenson, R. (2009). Can Accountable Care Organizations improve the value of health care by solving the cost and quality quandaries? New York, NY: Urban Institute.
PNHPCalifornia.org. (2010). The History and Definition of the “Accountable Care Organization”. Online: Physicians for a National Health Program.
The New York Times. (March 12, 2012). Small-Picture Approach Flips Medical Economics. Online: The New York Times.
Forbes.com. (2012). Obamacare’s Accountable Care Approach Reaches 1 in 10 In U.S. Online.
Time.com. (May 31, 2011). Post-HMO Health Care: Are ACOs the Answer? Online.
USNews.com. (August 19, 2013). ACOs: The New Rx for Health Care Delivery? Online.
MacKinney, A., Mueller, K. & McBride, T. (2011). The March to Accountable Care Organizations—How Will Rural Fare? The Journal of Rural Health, 27(1), 131–137.
Lowell, K. & Bertko, J. (2010). The Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model: Building Blocks for Success. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 33(1), 81–88.
Allen, B., Levin, D., Brant-Zawadzki, M., Lexa, F. & Duszak, R. (2011). ACR White Paper: Strategies for Radiologists in the Era of Health Care Reform and Accountable Care Organizations: A Report from the ACR Future Trends Committee. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 8(5), 309–317.
Abramson, R., Berger, P. & Brant-Zawadzki, M. (2012). Accountable Care Organizations and Radiology: Threat or Opportunity? Journal of the American College of Radiology, 9(12), 900–906.
Mehta, A. & Macklis, R. (2013). Overview of Accountable Care Organizations for Oncology Specialists. Journal of Oncology Practice, 9(4), 216-221.
Hester, J., Lewis, J. & McKethan, A. (2010). The Vermont Accountable Care Organization Pilot: A Community Health System to Control Total Medical Costs and Improve Population Health. New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund.
Fuchs, V. & Schaeffer, L. (2012). If Accountable Care Organizations Are the Answer, Who Should Create Them? JAMA. 307(21), 2261-2262.
Addicott, R. & Shortell, S. (2014). How “accountable” are accountable care organizations? Health Care Management Review, 39(4), 270–278.