Why Children’s Hospitals Embrace Value-Based Care, Even When They Aren’t Required To

While some adult systems are mandated to explore value-based care strategies, children’s hospitals are often exempt from those requirements. Still, pediatric institutions have made the decision for themselves “because they see the model as best for the health of their child patients and the financial success of their organizations,” in the words of this in-depth report from Healthcare Finance  written by Jeff Lagasse.

The article uses the experience of Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a jumping off point. The hospital was able to enter value-based care gradually in the mid-1990s – before the phrase “accountable care organization” (ACO) had even been coined – and put many elements in place before its ACO, Partners For Kids®, expanded to work with hundreds of thousands of children.

As Tim Robinson, Nationwide Children’s CEO (and past chief financial officer) explains:

"You need to have a network," says Robinson. "You need to have the data analytics infrastructure. You need to have the care coordination capabilities. You need to have a culture that enables wellness and prevention and that holistic view of patients and family. You need to have pharmacy engagement. We had the luxury of growing it slowly, and building it as it matured within the state, and building relationships.”