Accountable Care Organization
What is an Accountable Care Organization?
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high quality care to the Medicare (and other insurance) patients they serve. Coordinated care helps ensure that patients, especially the chronically ill, get the right care at the right time, with the goal of avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending health care dollars more wisely, it will share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program.
https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/aco
Health care costs have been going up world wide over many years. High costs affects citizens in many ways. Health care expenses not only affect the household budget, they affect the function of people trying to access care. Sometimes delay in care can create a difficult to treat health situation. As severity of disease progresses, so does the cost.
What can we do to decrease health care costs?
My approach to your care is to keep you you as healthy as possible. I am here to guide you, answer your questions, and to help you. It's about you, your comfort, health and happiness. I want you to live your best life. I like to treat my patients like family. I believe compassionate and loving care is the best approach. We all need a shoulder to lean on at times, I'm here to help. My staff is the best in the business. They are experienced, smart and above all - caring! We all believe that listening and guiding you through your health care needs helps you stay well. -- Dr Patti
Establish with a primary care provider
Guides you through new and chronic disease treatment
Helps determine the need for specialist care
Health maintenance activities
Can treat you before the Emergency Room or Hospital is needed
Can help prevent you from going back to the hospital
Keep you healthy in your home as long as possible
Early diagnosis and treatment of problems
Finding new problems early can make the treatment plan easier to follow and improve outcomes
Consistent follow up of existing problems
Regular check ups to keep you healthy can keep you out of the emergency room or hospital
Better controlled problems means you feel better and have a more enjoyable life!!
Health screening and maintenance
Mammogram
Colorectal cancer screening
Blood pressure measurement
Cholesterol management
Osteoporosis screening
Dental exams
Eye exams
Diabetes screening
Cervical cancer screening
Sexually transmitted disease screening
Depression screening
Vaccines as indicated for your situation and age
and more!!
How does this affect our approach to your care?
Regular appointments to review your health needs
Annual exams to assess overall health and safety
Schedule health maintenance activities
Reminders to complete appointments (yes, we may pester your to get them done!)
First line in treatment plan, to prevent emergency room visits for non-emergent reasons
Emergency room follow up visits to prevent another expensive care visit
Hospital follow up call and visit to help keep you out of the hospital
We are a resource for you to keep you well, answer your questions and to partner with you to improve your health