Are you a Medicare beneficiary? Learn about the new Texas Panhandle Clinical Partners ACO
An ACO, or Accountable Care Organization, is a group of doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers that work together to deliver coordinated service and high quality healthcare. It’s not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), and there’s no cost to Medicare beneficiaries. Rather, it’s a voluntary organization that helps providers and participants share information to improve the health of the community.
The Texas Panhandle Clinical Partners Accountable Care Organization, LLC (TPCPACO) is led by participating providers. Its network includes over 250 physicians and healthcare professionals.
If your Medicare provider participates in the ACO, your Medicare benefits, services, rights and protections won’t change. You can still use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare at any time. You may notice, however, that you do not have to fill out as many forms with the same information or repeat medical tests, because providers share information. For patients, it’s positive, says Brandon Coats, Manager of ACO Operations and Development. “It improves the communication and collaboration of providers in the community, thereby improving the care beneficiaries receive.”
Investing in Patient Safety
Northwest Texas Healthcare System has added five R-D™ Rapid Disinfector™ units to its germ-fighting arsenal, providing another safety measure for patients, visitors and staff. These portable units use ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation to eradicate harmful viruses, spores and bacteria. Remote sensors placed in the room with the unit tell when disinfection is complete. “This is a very powerful tool,” says Manager of Infection Prevention Phyllis M. Riles, BSN, RN CIC.
She notes that this equipment reinforces the comprehensive cleaning and safety measures in place, including hand washing, which remains key to preventing the spread of infection. “Our environmental services staff members are diligent,” she adds. “They know what they do matters.”
For more information, talk to your doctor, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit http://tpcpaco.com/.
Doctors or healthcare providers who participate in an ACO must display a poster that notifies you of this and informs you of your option to decline sharing your healthcare information by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.