Shared data paves the way for creating accountable care systems

Shared data paves the way for creating accountable care systems At this year’s NHS Confederation conference Simon Stevens confirmed the eight areas in England chosen to evolve their sustainability and transformation partnerships into accountable care systems (ACSs). This move to ACSs – first announced by NHS England in its Next stepsdocument – represents the next stage in integrating local health systems to deliver better, more co-ordinated care for their local populations.

To integrate effectively, it is not enough for organisations to speak to one another, their IT systems need to be able to communicate too. In the United States, where accountable care is further ahead in its development, good IT systems are seen as essential (though not sufficient on their own) to delivering on the promise of better health outcomes. The King's Fund