Physician Alignment Main Hurdle for ACOs

According to new survey results, physician alignment is the main problem when building accountable care organizations (ACOs).

AMN Healthcare conducted the survey of 882 facility administrators and physicians.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents indicated their facilities are either in the process of forming ACOs or are considering doing so, while 42% said their facilities will not form ACOs in the foreseeable future.

Of those who are moving toward ACOs, 42% said physician alignment is the most serious obstacle to their efforts, followed by lack of capital (38%), lack of integrated IT systems (31%), and lack of evidence-based treatment protocol data (25%).

Of those who are not moving toward ACOs, 40% cited physician alignment as a reason they are not, followed by lack of capital (31%), lack of integrated IT systems (26%), and lack of evidence-based treatment protocol data (23%).

"While capital and data are essential to forming ACOs, the success of this emerging model turns on people. Health facility leaders and physicians must align their interests, communicate and cooperate for this model to work," says AMN Healthcare president and CEO Susan Salka.

That kind of cooperation is rare in healthcare these days. Not only are physicians and hospital not always aligned for optimal outcomes, they often aren't aligned strategically, with hospitals and physician groups working to out maneuver one another.