Hospitals and doctors are like any other kind of professional: there are great ones, there are awful ones and those that are somewhere in between. Because a hospital or doctor is responsible for your health or life, it is important to find the one that best fits your needs. Here are some tools to help you do that.
The CMS Hospital Hospital Compare tool allows you to compare hospitals based on data collected on more than 4,000 hospitals. This includes data regarding how the hospital staff treats patients. This is important, as studies show that there is a correlation between a staff's treatment of a patient and the likelihood of medical malpractice--the worse the treatment, the higher the chances of medical errors. It also provides infection ratios at any given hospital, as well as rates of complications for certain types of surgery.
www.qualitycheck.org: allows you to check to see if a hospital has been accredited by the Joint Commission, meaning that it conforms with basic safety standards.
www.hospitalsafetyscore.org: allows you to check a hospital's "safety grade," which includes factors like patient falls, medical errors, bed sores and staff hygiene.
www.informedpatientinstitute.org: Also provides hospital report cards by state.
www.healthgrades.com: Provides grades to hospitals based on specific procedures and conditions. When having a specific procedure done, check this website out to make sure the hospital you are having the procedure at does well at it.
www.leapfroggroup.org/cp: Lists the volume of and survival odds for high risk procedures at a hospital.
Healthcare Bluebook: Provides consumers with the fair market price of medical treatments, much like Kelley Blue Book informs car buyers and sellers the fair market value of a specific type of car. Simply look for the treatment you need and HB will tell you what you should be paying for it.
GoodRx: helps consumers find the lowest prices, discounts or coupons for prescription drugs at local pharmacies.
Arizona Doctor Search: Search any Arizona doctor to find certifications, qualifications, profile and importantly, any disciplinary action taken against them.
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