Healthcare business intelligence users may have more insight into their operations, but they aren't necessarily using the data for ACO and HIE participation.

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 By Jennifer Bresnick

April 03, 2017 - Healthcare providers who want to wade into the value-based care ecosystem are well aware that they must overcome a number of technical and organizational hurdles before they can reap the rewards of joining an accountable care organization (ACO) or taking on a pay-for-performance contract with a payer.

Not only must they feel comfortable with using their electronic health records for basic documentation and patient management, but they must also master the complex continuum of healthcare business intelligence tools that combine to support risk stratification, revenue cycle management, and care coordination.

These challenges are often even more pronounced in the physician community than they are on the hospital side, due to the greater prevalence of smaller groups with smaller budgets, fewer resources, and less health IT knowhow than their acute care counterparts.

BI tools come in all shapes, sizes, and functionalities, and the category encompasses a shifting array of administrative and clinical offerings that are intended to help healthcare providers gain insight into their processes, reduce inefficiencies, and lay the groundwork for participation in a seamless, interoperable, and collaborative care environment.

While many physician groups are investing heavily in these products in preparation for the industry’s value-based tipping point, far fewer have yet reached out to their partners and peers through formalized accountable care organizations or regional health information exchanges (HIE).

READ MORE: The Difference Between Big Data and Smart Data in Healthcare