14-February-2012

In an effort to better serve patients, improve community health and reduce health care costs, three hospitals in Akron, Ohio, have formed a partnership that brings together public health, medical providers, health systems, higher education, safety-net services, researchers, mental-health services and other community agencies. The partnership, known as the Austen BioInnovation Institute, hopes that its Accountable Care Community initiative will become a national model for health care, the Akron Beacon Journal Online reported.

Dave Zook, chair of FaegreBD Consulting, says the project will be a "living laboratory" for improving health in communities nationwide. Zook advised the partnership on developing the Accountable Care Community.

"There really is a rising emphasis on reducing health care fragmentation, especially on the community level," Zook told the Akron Beacon Journal Online. The Austen Institute "and its partners are positioned to have a major impact through the ACC implementation—something that will be good for Akron and the entire nation." Read more.