Two of the largest healthcare systems in Indiana will partner with six area hospitals that are part of the Suburban Health Organization (SHO) to launch an accountable care consortium (ACC) focusing on innovative healthcare solutions for employers and commercial markets. The goal of the partnership is to improve the quality of patient care, while lowering the cost of healthcare delivery. The ACC will be a separate entity with its own board and CEO. It is not connected to a federal government initiative.

“As ACC partners, we remain separate organizations in a competitive healthcare environment,” said Community Health Network President and CEO, Bryan Mills. “We recognize that everyone gains when we are able to deliver higher quality care, while controlling costs. Working collaboratively on our goals of reducing the cost of healthcare for defined populations, we believe we can achieve greater success together, than if we pursue these aims separately.”

The yet-unnamed ACC is a collaboration where all partners have formed a joint venture and have equal ownership. While not a merger, the ACC partners will bring together over 30 hospitals throughout Central Indiana. Physicians are leading the efforts to develop and focus on best practices. In addition, each partner has committed to utilizing their respective IT infrastructures for collecting clinical data, while working together to allow the sharing of information between provider members.

“Healthcare reform has required healthcare systems to think differently than in the past,” said Vincent Caponi, CEO of St. Vincent Health and Ascension Health Ministry Market Leader for Indiana and Wisconsin. “Through our ACC partnership, we share a vision of redesigning the healthcare model, and have similar approaches to the delivery of care for Indiana patients and families.”

In addition to Community and St. Vincent Health, the suburban hospitals that have joined the ACC include:

·         Hancock Regional Hospital

·         Hendricks Regional Health

·         Henry County Hospital

·         Johnson Memorial Hospital

·         Riverview Hospital

·         Witham Health Services

“The ACC will commit to standardized measures and goals and creating an environment of shared innovation to achieve the best outcomes possible,” said Julie Carmichael, president of SHO. “Benefits of participation in the ACC include shared infrastructure costs, common performance measures and reporting, standardization of clinical protocols and customization of work flow changes as it pertains to a chronic medical condition.”