ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in order to explore more deeply the ways that these new models of care bring patient engagement and personal health Information technology (IT) tools to the forefront. ACOs are a prominent feature in the Affordable Care Act of 2012 (ACA), established as part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). For ACOs, managing chronic conditions for patient populations is a critical factor for long-term financial viability. Managing chronic disease requires ongoing observation, communication between patients and providers, and recurring treatment adjustments. Most patients cared for in the United States (US) health system are treated in an episodic, fragmented mode, compromising continuity of care and streamlined communication. Researchers at Geisinger, one of the nation’s “most wired” health systems,developed the Technologies in Diabetes Education (TIDE) program to engage and motivate patients at risk for diabetes.
