HHS HealthBeat (April 25, 2008)

Shopping around

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

If you need to be in a hospital, picking one at random isn’t the way to go. But unless it’s an emergency, people may be able to choose their own hospital.

The director of HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Dr. Carolyn Clancy. advises people to check with their insurance plan to see what choices they have.

But even within the plan, there are ways to judge which hospital is best for your needs.

Clancy recommends the HHS Web site “Hospital Compare.”  The site evaluates hospitals in your area on their care for certain medical conditions in adults.

Clancy also stresses the importance of being well informed:

“Consult with your health care professional, and get as much information as you can because, in the end, you’re going to have better results if you do.” (6 seconds)

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 24 2008