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. 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. If not, you would need to be under the care of another doctor while at the hospital. 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. No Research shows that hospitals that do many of the same types of procedures tend to have better success with them.