New delivery classifications assess typical attention of hospitals

The Internet has made it easier to become an educated consumer. Including health services - - consumer groups and other guests at the push of a button, the opinions of thousands of products and services are displayed. No wonder many people have these comments and notes before visiting a hospital.

Over the past 25 years, US News and World Report has a list of "best hospitals" in the United States. In an article in this week's JAMA Mirador, the main magazine health analysts described how are expanding and changing the way it is qualified to hospitals. 

Common procedures include the conditions

Since 1990, US News has analyzed the information of about 2,000 major hospitals in the US and ranked among the top 50 in each of 16 different specialties. "The program is designed for people with complex medical needs who can not find treatment in their community hospitals, and are looking to go elsewhere," Ben Harder, director of the Health Analysis by US News and World Report, I said it. in fact, the classification "are not designed for use by patients who need hospital care typical," he and co-author Avery Comarow writes in JAMA.

It changes. New American team spent over a year analyzing more than 5 million patient records under more than a dozen of common procedures and medical conditions of more than 4,300 hospitals. Scores for five of them were published online today. They are: 

     *  hip replacement
     *  knee replacement
     *  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
     *  congestive heart failure
     *  bypass surgery of the coronary artery.

"We want to help people make important decisions about hospitals in your community," he said harder.

The new ratings used alone performance measures, such as patient safety, technology and the survival rate after admission. The data are taken from various sources, such as reports of Medicare, the American Hospital Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Diseases, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Unlike other rankings of US News rankings do not include new surveys of doctors. 

Weighing information

If you rely solely on the ranking of hospitals in US News or anyone else when deciding where to go for treatment? "These assessments can help, but are mostly limited to data, and you are not give a complete picture," says Dr. Thomas Lee, a cardiologist and director of the Harvard Heart Letter Harvard foundation. "Rank hospitals height and weight. Patient surveys are emotional intelligence. 

"Dr. Lee is certainly biased, because it is also the medical director of the Press Ganey, a national firm that utilizes extensive investigations, patient satisfaction surveys, especially to help hospitals and other health care providers to improve services. "What people really want peace of mind, and you will not receive as statistics."

It points to many hospitals' websites now post comments on all patients and physicians, including critics of the University of Utah Health Care.

" Just to have that kind of information gives an idea of what the doctors are very similar," said Dr. Lee. "In fact, we realize that doctors with more comments get more referrals.  
As a physician, I can tell you of comments posted on you that makes you better because you know you are being assessed. "

Choose your hospital 

With so much information available, it can be overwhelming to dig through it when it is time to choose a hospital. Dr. Lee believes that the most effective way to start is to talk to your doctor. "I do not think it works well when patients try to start with a blank slate and choose the best place in the country. Ultimately, I think the coordination of care is so important that the recommendation of your doctor about where to go and looking questions. You want someone who will work with your doctor, "he explains.

His advice is to get a recommendation from your doctor first, and then look for reviews and ratings. And US News are not the only group that offers information. Other classifications of the hospital include:

  *   Consumer Reports ratings hospital (subscribers)
  *   HealthGrades Hospital Law
  *   Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score
  *   Truven Health Analytics 100 best hospitals
  *   Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare. 

It is also important to pay attention to how a doctor or an institution is responsible for their particular condition. Find answers to these questions can help:

   *   Does the hospital provides the best test for diagnosis and treatment for your health?
   *   Are teaching hospitals conduct research in his state?
   *   What the hospital most of the procedure you need?
   *   How many times a month is the doctor who performs the procedure you need?

 "And remember," says Dr. Lee, "just because the hospital is famous for research and the Nobel Prize does not mean you'll do a great job on the specific problem you have." In other words, it is only by using all available information, you will have a clearer picture of what awaits idea. And that leads you to be an educated consumer to a patient and confident.