Accountable care organizations are seen as one of the most important healthcare models for improving quality and lowering costs, and a new report says that health IT tools like electronic health records will play an important role in the success of the model.

The report, written by the Global Institute for Emerging Healthcare Practices, states that medical offices that fail to adopt more quality-driven practices and the technology necessary for implementing these models risk losing patients and experiencing financial difficulties.

Accountable care organizations seek to institute a fundamental change in the way healthcare is paid for. Under the current system, providers are reimbursed for each patient they see or every service they provide. However, in accountable care, physicians must operate within financial constraints, as reimbursements are tied to quality and efficiency.

EHRs and other Health IT tools will benefit accountable care in three ways, the report states. Greater automation will improve efficiency, electronic systems will lead to better management of data and health information exchanges will foster greater care coordination.