A collaborative arrangement among healthcare providers, formed to enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care through coordinated clinical activities. This involves active and ongoing programs to evaluate and modify practice patterns and to collectively manage resources, leading to improved patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness. An example includes a group of independent physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare entities working together to develop and implement standardized clinical protocols for managing chronic conditions.
The significance lies in its potential to transform healthcare delivery by promoting better communication and data sharing among providers. Benefits encompass reduced duplication of services, improved care coordination, and enhanced accountability for performance. Historically, the rise of such collaborative structures has been driven by the need to address rising healthcare costs and improve the value delivered to patients, aligning incentives for both providers and payers.
