Developing and Managing a Successful CV Service Line An ACC Council on Clinical Practice White Paper

The transition from traditional fee-for-service payment models to value-based payment models taking place today has encouraged physicians and hospitals to work collaboratively to provide more efficient and less costly health care. Non-health care industries have used a service line approach to improve quality and performance, making use of methodologies such as Six Sigma or Lean to increase efficiencies while maintaining quality. These approaches can be applied to health care delivery and, more specifically, are a natural approach for cardiovascular (CV) care, which accounts for a large percentage of health care costs. However, implementation of a well-managed service line requires dynamic leadership, a strong but flexible organizational structure, and a commitment to a physician/hospital partnership. This paper describes the various aspects of developing and managing a successful CV Service Line.