Hospital Compare Website - US Health And Human Services

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) debuted their Hospital Compare website in 2005. It allows patients, healthcare providers, insurers, and others to compare the quality of care provided by selected hospitals. It includes information on:

• Process of care
  
• Outcome of care, including mortality scores
  
• Patient experiences and satisfaction

The site was recently updated with specific death rates (including a new rate for pneumonia deaths), process of care measures for children's asthma, and maps.

Hospitals can be selected for comparison based on specific conditions, or location.

CMS is still working out the kinks - which measures to include, how to rate a measure - but you can't beat the increased transparency. Patients armed with this kind of information may motivate hospitals be more accountable.

Give it a try!

________