Report cards rate healthcare providers

There are more than 150 public reports -- "report cards" -- that rate the quality of care from doctors, hospitals and nursing homes, a U.S. expert says. Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said despite the growing amount of information, more work is needed to make it easier for consumers to identify high-value care. "Still, public reports from federal, state and private entities provide data that was not available a decade ago, and can give you a good starting point to learn about and compare healthcare providers in your community," Clancy said in a statement. "Hospital Compare is one example. It's an online resource for consumers from the Medicare program and the Hospital Quality Alliance. It can tell you whether a hospital provides medically sound care for heart attacks, pneumonia, and heart failure." Hospitals report this information on a voluntary basis, but they get higher Medicare payments if they participate, Clancy said. "Hospital Compare can also tell you if Medicare patients died 30 days after they were admitted or if they had to be re-admitted after they were released," Clancy said. "This information can help you learn more about how well a hospital tries to prevent complications." Another online help is The Leapfrog Group, which surveys more than 1,000 U.S. hospitals each year to find out where they stand on safety and quality standards, Clancy said.