The New IT Strategy Map

Topics: Meaningful Use, Electronic Medical Records Strategy, Information Technology, IT Infrastructure, Accountable Care, Market Trends, Strategy, Health Care Reform

After reading this study, members will understand:

• The similarities and differences between planning to meet meaningful use and deploying IT to support an accountable care organization
• Core competencies under accountable care that can be facilitated by IT
• The types of IT capabilities necessary to prosper in each stage of the transition to accountable care
• The importance of leadership involvement in ensuring the successful deployment and adoption of essential IT infrastructure

Executive Summary

Sizing up the new IT challenge

Information technology has long been a major focus of investment and management attention for hospitals and health systems, most especially since the federal government began unveiling its criteria for "meaningful use of health care IT." It is also now becoming clear that IT capabilities are likely to be a major driver of competitive advantage under accountable care.

Lacking an "accountable care IT" plan

However, despite the unprecedented focus on IT within health care today, many hospitals and health systems lack a comprehensive plan for deploying the IT infrastructure necessary to support an accountable care organization. Hospital leaders must understand what systems will need to be put into place to support accountable care objectives, the timing and sequencing with which these systems should be deployed, and the role that each member of the leadership team will play in securing successful implementation and adoption.

Laying the IT foundation

The most pressing IT challenge facing hospitals and health systems in the near term will be the identification and implementation of foundational IT systems. Many organizations are currently relying on the meaningful use requirements as a roadmap for IT infrastructure development. However, while the investments needed to meet the meaningful use criteria are complimentary to those needed to facilitate accountable care, they are not identical. Hospitals and health systems need to begin investing in IT now to facilitate new core competencies under accountable care.

Access the full study to learn more

The New IT Strategy Map offers a detailed look at the major strategic and business challenges of implementing a robust IT infrastructure capable of providing meaningful data exchange and comprehensive analytics, as well as insights into the proper timing and sequencing for deploying key IT systems, and the roll of hospital leadership in securing successful implementation and adoption of IT tools.

An Expanding Mandate