How to Find Good Hospital Care Success Rate Ask Sid AARP Bulletin
How to Find Good Hospital, Care, Success Rate - Ask Sid - AARP Bulletin
You'll want to know if a facility has experience and a high success rate for your condition or procedure; whether it's accredited by the Joint Commission; and, of course, whether it's covered by your health plan.
You can get some answers by calling different facilities yourself. You might also get recommendations from the local chapters of condition-centric groups such as the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association. But perhaps the best info can be gleaned by checking these four websites: , operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lets you search for facilities based on your medical condition or surgical procedure. It includes survey results from patients on their quality of care, and information from hospitals that have submitted information on care quality. (If a local hospital is not there, it either means it did not submit the information or did not agree to make the information public.) gives information and ratings on 5,000 hospitals and 750,000 doctors, pooled from dozens of sources, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You can search by state or city and then by specialty. In the hospital rating area, you can check on such things as awards and patient survival rates. is the website of the Joint Commission, which awards accreditations and certifications to hospitals. To receive these accolades, hospitals must voluntarily seek them out and meet specific criteria. The Joint Commission makes periodic checks to ensure quality is maintained. Its website lists facilities it has accredited and certified, searchable by name, ZIP or city, and type of service or provider. lists anonymous postings from patients about their experiences with certain doctors or hospitals. Expect strong feelings — good or bad — from people who took the time to post their reviews. You may also like: Sid Kirchheimer writes about consumer and health issues. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
How Can I Find a Good Hospital
Check websites that pool information on success rates and care
Q. I need to be hospitalized. How should I decide on the best facility for my needs? A. Many patients rely solely on their doctor's recommendation, and while that's a good starting point, there are other factors to consider. See also:You'll want to know if a facility has experience and a high success rate for your condition or procedure; whether it's accredited by the Joint Commission; and, of course, whether it's covered by your health plan.
Related
You can get some answers by calling different facilities yourself. You might also get recommendations from the local chapters of condition-centric groups such as the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association. But perhaps the best info can be gleaned by checking these four websites: , operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lets you search for facilities based on your medical condition or surgical procedure. It includes survey results from patients on their quality of care, and information from hospitals that have submitted information on care quality. (If a local hospital is not there, it either means it did not submit the information or did not agree to make the information public.) gives information and ratings on 5,000 hospitals and 750,000 doctors, pooled from dozens of sources, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You can search by state or city and then by specialty. In the hospital rating area, you can check on such things as awards and patient survival rates. is the website of the Joint Commission, which awards accreditations and certifications to hospitals. To receive these accolades, hospitals must voluntarily seek them out and meet specific criteria. The Joint Commission makes periodic checks to ensure quality is maintained. Its website lists facilities it has accredited and certified, searchable by name, ZIP or city, and type of service or provider. lists anonymous postings from patients about their experiences with certain doctors or hospitals. Expect strong feelings — good or bad — from people who took the time to post their reviews. You may also like: Sid Kirchheimer writes about consumer and health issues. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures