ACE unit business model

Abstract

Building the business case for an Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit is one of the key steps in ACE Unit development and follows the same steps as the ABCs of ACE Unit implementation; agree, build, commence, document, evaluate, and feedback. Essentially, ACE provides cost stabilization and quality standardization in the era of value-based purchasing. To get "the agree" you must demonstrate the scope of the problem and present the evidence base showing how ACE care model has been shown to improve outcomes in randomized trials. However, this is not suffi cient in today's value-based healthcare market place, a health system environment of multiple, competing demands for limited capital. You must demonstrate the fi nancial benefi ts in addition to the impact on quality. The next step is to construct a business plan to show the improvement in cost savings and cost effi ciency at your institution. In this chapter we provide the language you will need to know when talking to stakeholders, particularly in fi nance and administration, as well as an example pro forma which you can replicate to build a business plan to open an ACE Unit at your institution. Using the principles and practices within the ACE model will help your institution achieve the three part aim (http://www.ihi.org/ offerings/Initiatives/TripleAim/Pages/default.aspx, Accessed 13 Aug 2013) of improved experience, decreased cost, and increased quality.