The U.S. healthcare system is grappling with a multitude of challenges, including fragmentation and a lack of cohesion. These issues give rise to inefficiencies, incomplete patient records, and frustrating encounters for both providers and patients. To address these problems, various health plans are aiming to reduce roadblocks and deliver comprehensive care.

As health plans strive to evolve and meet the diverse needs of the market, they often encounter obstacles in enhancing services, expanding their reach, and achieving their business goals. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in selecting the right partner. Here are three essential questions to ask when selecting a healthcare partner:

1. Why partner? Starting with your organization's goals and needs in mind, identify the areas where a partner could enhance your offering. Collaborating with an established partner can enhance credibility. It can also enable the offering of unique services, increase speed to market, and allow for scalable integration of solutions. By aligning your organization's goals with those of your partner, you can create a synergistic relationship that drives mutual success.

2. What factors contribute to mutual success? Once you have identified your primary reasons for seeking a partner, consider the elements that contribute to the success of both parties. Understand the goals of both organizations and evaluate the needs of your members. Choose partners capable of serving multiple areas and seamlessly integrating with your company, ensuring a holistic approach to healthcare delivery.

3. What strengths and synergies does this partner bring? To ensure long-term success, look for a partner with a similar philosophy and approach to supporting members. For instance, when Accolade partnered with Priority Health, it enabled us to merge a proven advocacy solution with a health plan’s true strengths, resulting in a comprehensive and member-centric healthcare experience.

By addressing these key questions, health plans put themselves in a position to make informed decisions about their healthcare partner. This thoughtful approach can lead to tightly integrated services, improved outcomes and experiences, and satisfaction for all involved stakeholders.

Learn more about how Accolade can partner with you and transform how you deliver healthcare.