Accountable: The Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance Accountable Care Journey

While many health care organizations need to improve health care quality and lower costs, most lack specific strategies and tactics for implementing these changes. Baylor Scott & White Health has established and continues to develop an accountable care organization (ACO) called the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance (BSWQA) to improve the quality of care and decrease health care costs through clinical integration. Accountable: The Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance Accountable Care Journey tells the story of the BSWQA and its clinical network and payers who are committed to delivering accountable, value-based patient care. It describes the need for ACOs in today's health care environment and details the framework and requirements needed to establish one. The book provides readers with essential background information about accountable care, including the Triple Aim and population health management. It outlines the infrastructure and governance framework needed to establish a successful ACO and supplies real-world examples from the ACO owned by Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas. The book explores the concept of accountability for all stakeholders in today’s complex care systems, as well as the role of personal and organizational accountability in managing patient populations. It also includes detailed outlines to guide you in developing your own accountable care organization?from step-by-step details of legal requirements to an outline of the role of payers in this model.

Carl E. Couch, MD, MMM, FAAFP is a Board-Certified Family Physician, Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice, and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. An active family physician for nearly 40 years, he founded Family Medical Center at Garland, Texas, the first group practice acquired by Baylor Healthcare System in 1993.