Public information on how hospitals are rated
Rating organizations and physicians is a practice both for government agencies and other organizations that assess quality. Many resources are available online. Here are a few to consider.
Hospital Compare
The Hospital Compare website was created through the efforts of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA). The HQA is a public-private collaboration established to promote reporting on hospital quality of care. The HQA consists of organizations that represent consumers, hospitals, doctors and nurses, employers, accrediting organizations, and Federal agencies. The information on this website can be used by any adult needing hospital care.
MIHospitalInform.org
Michigan patients, families, employers and other consumers can find a wealth of information about thecharges, payments and quality of care at Michigan hospitals, including Lakeland Health hospitals in St. Joseph, Niles, and Watervliet
MI Hospital Inform (www.MIHospitalInform.org) is a voluntary consumer service of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) and the state’s nonprofit hospitals.
Consumers can access www.MIHospitalInform.org free of charge.
Available on the web site is pricing information for the 50 most frequent inpatient and 50 most frequent outpatient medical procedures (clinical diagnoses and treatments) monitored and covered by Medicare. Specifically, consumers will find the average charge, average payment, average length of stay (inpatient only), and total number of patients who were treated for each of the medical procedures at Michigan hospitals. The Medicare data compiled on the site came from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a credible and independent source.
The MHA notes that, while Medicare data are good indicators of pricing and quality at Michigan hospitals, consumers should not base their health care treatment decisions exclusively on this information. Consumers are encouraged to contact their local hospital, personal physician and insurance company for additional information.