Archive for May 21, 2008

Comparing quality of your local hospitals

May 21, 2008 by Atul.

Whether outside the US or inside, it is important to get objective data so that patients can make an informed decision.

The US govt’s HHS has launched an advertising campaign to make folks aware about their website. Called Hospital Compare, this website-based tool provides a comparison, with pretty good user-oriented search flexibility.

 here’s a sample:

Percent of Surgery Patients Whose Doctors Ordered Treatments to Prevent Blood Clots (Venous Thromboembolism) For Certain Types of Surgeries
The rates displayed in this graph are from data reported for discharges January 2007 through June 2007.
    Top Hospitals 97%
 
 
Average For All Reporting Hospitals In The United States   
79% 
Average For All Reporting Hospitals In California   
73% 
KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SANTA CLARA   
92% 
STANFORD HOSPITAL   
87% 
WASHINGTON HOSPITAL   
67% 
 
   
  

Top Hospitals represents the top 10% of hospitals nationwide. Top hospitals achieved a 97% rate or better.

 

 Be careful, though, as the reported data can be easily mis-interpreted by a lay person. If you look at the data, get a qualified person to help you understand the differences. Also, some/most of the information may be somewhat dated (thru 2007) and in fairness to Quality professionals, all hospitals are continuously engaged in improving to the extent possible.

Finally, this gives a picture of some parameters regarding hospitals’ performance, there are many many other aspects that you cannot capture here.

Posted in Reporting, Quality, Uncategorized | No Comments »

|