Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care
Choosing a Hospital
Contents
How can you choose the best quality hospital for the care you need? It
is important to consider quality, because research shows that some
hospitals simply do a better job than others. For example, we know
that hospitals that do a greater number of the same surgeries have
better outcomes for their patients.
Quick Check for Quality
Look for a hospital that:
- Is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations.
- Is rated highly by State or consumer or other groups.
- Is one where your doctor has privileges, if that is important
to you.
- Is covered by your health plan.
- Has experience with your condition.
- Has had success with your condition.
- Checks and works to improve its own quality of care.
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Choosing a Hospital Worksheet
The following questions can help you make the best choices. At the end
you will be able to print out your results summary for the hospital
you are considering.
You may not have a choice right now because of your health plan or
doctor. But keep these questions in mind for when you might make a
change.
Does the hospital meet national quality standards?
(_) Yes (_) No
Hospitals can choose to be surveyed by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) to make sure they
meet certain quality standards. The standards address the quality of
staff and equipment, and—most recently—the hospital's success in
treating and curing patients. If a hospital meets those standards, it
becomes accredited (gets a "seal of approval"). Reviews are done at
least every 3 years. Most hospitals participate in this program.
The JCAHO prepares a performance report on each hospital that it
surveys. The report lists:
- Accreditation status (six levels—from the lowest, "Not
Accredited," to the highest, "Accredited with Commendation").
- Date of the survey.
- Evaluation of the key areas reviewed during the survey.
- Results of any followup activity.
- Areas needing improvement.
- Comparison with national results.
You can order JCAHO's performance reports free of charge by calling
630-792-5800. Or, check the JCAHO's Web site at http://www.jcaho.org
for a hospital's performance report or for its accreditation status.
How does the hospital compare with others in my area?
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One important way to learn about hospital quality is to look at
hospital report cards developed by States and consumer groups. A
recent study about such reports found that besides helping consumers
make informed choices, they also encourage hospitals to improve their
quality of care. This is a very good reason to look for and use
consumer information about hospitals. Here are some ways to find such
information:
- Some States—for example, Pennsylvania, California, and Ohio—have
laws that require hospitals to report data on the quality of their
care. The information is then given to the public so consumers can
compare hospitals.
- Some groups gather information on how well hospitals perform and
how satisfied their patients are. An example is the Cleveland
Health Quality Choice Program, which is made up of businesses,
doctors, and hospitals.
- Consumer groups publish guides to hospitals and other health care
choices in various cities. Find out what kind of information is
available where you live by calling your State department of
health, health care council, or hospital association. Also, ask
your doctor what he or she thinks about the hospital.
Does my doctor have privileges at the hospital (is permitted to admit patients)?
(_) Yes (_) No
If not, you would need to be under the care of another doctor while at
the hospital.
Does my health plan cover care at the hospital?
(_) Yes (_) No
If not, do you have another way to pay for your care?
If going to a certain hospital is important to you, keep that in mind
when choosing a doctor and/or health plan. In general, you will go to
the hospital where your doctor has "privileges."
Does the hospital have experience with my condition?
(_) Yes (_) No
For example, "general" hospitals handle a wide range of routine
conditions, such as hernias and pneumonia. "Specialty" hospitals have
a lot of experience with certain conditions (such as cancer) or
certain groups (such as children). You may be able to choose General
Hospital "X" for gallbladder surgery, Specialty Hospital "Y" if you
need care for a heart condition, and Specialty Hospital "Z" for your
children.
You also may want to find out if the hospital has a special team of
health professionals that works with people with your condition or
treatment.
Has the hospital had success with my condition?
(_) Yes (_) No
Research shows that hospitals that do many of the same types of
procedures tend to have better success with them. In other words,
"practice makes perfect." Ask your doctor or the hospital if there is
information on:
- How often the procedure is done there.
- How often the doctor does the procedure.
- The patient outcomes (how well the patients do).
Also, some health departments and others publish reports on "outcomes
studies" about certain procedures. These studies show, for example,
how well patients do after having heart bypass surgery. Such studies
can help you compare which hospitals and surgeons have had the most
success with a procedure.
How well does the hospital check and improve on its own quality of
care?
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More and more hospitals are trying to improve the quality of their
care. One way is to keep track of patient outcomes for certain
procedures. Another way is to keep track of patient injuries and
infections that occur in the hospital. By finding out what works and
what doesn't, the hospital can improve the way it treats patients.
Ask the hospital quality management (or assurance) department how it
monitors and improves the hospital's quality of care. Also, ask for
any patient satisfaction surveys the hospital has done. These will
tell you how other patients have rated the quality of their care.
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Sources of Additional Information
A Patient's Bill of Rights
Available from the American Hospital Association. Free.
Web site: http://www.aha.org/aha/issues/Communicating-With-Patients/pt-care-partnership.html
All Hospitals Are Not Created Equal
Information and questions to ask to help you choose the hospital that
best suits your needs. Part of a series published by Health Pages'
online magazine.
Web site: http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-hosps.html
Choosing a Hospital and Hospital Quality Checklist
Web site offered by the Pacific Business Group on Health.
Web site: http://www.healthscope.org/hospitals/default.asp
healthfinder®
Provides a gateway to reliable consumer health information from the
Federal Government and other organizations.
Web site: http://www.healthfinder.gov
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