They enter details about their case and what they want from the doctor. They then wait to hear from hospitals that are interested in doing the surgery. Hospitals contracted with PatientWise provide their statistics to the site, like morbidity and mortality rates, so patients have access to the hospital's track record. While PatientWise is not designed to find the patient the cheapest surgery, the company said it could help hold down costs in the long term by encouraging more competition among hospitals. PatientWise said that insurance payments won't be affected by using the service, but if insurance does limit where the patient goes for surgery, the patient can specify that online.
Hospitals also pay a fee if they take the patient's case.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.