Describe the role of 'accountable care models' in healthcare.

Accountable care models play a critical role in healthcare by promoting coordinated care among providers, which in turn aims to improve the quality of care patients receive and enhance overall patient outcomes. These models are designed to encourage different healthcare professionals to work together, ensuring that care is well-coordinated across various services and settings. This collaboration is essential as it helps in addressing the complex needs of patients more effectively, leading to better health results.

Moreover, by prioritizing care coordination, accountable care models can help prevent fragmented care, which often results in unnecessary tests, duplicate services, and increased costs. These models incentivize providers to focus on long-term health outcomes rather than delivering services in isolation. The overall goal is to create a healthcare environment where patient care is streamlined, supporting holistic approaches to treatment and recovery, while simultaneously working to manage and reduce costs in a sustainable manner.