Web Site Compares Hospitals

Jun 22, 06:57 AM

Current Headlines: By The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.

Jun. 22--What is "Hospital Compare"?

It's a federal government Web site that lets you compare hospitals on how often they do what experts say they should for heart attacks, heart failure, and pneumonia, plus preventing surgical infections.

How do you compare hospitals?

Go to www.hospitalcompare.hhs. gov and search for hospitals by city, county, state or ZIP code.

Why does Hospital Compare exist?

It's a part of a national trend to help consumers shop for medical services as costs climb.

How are local hospitals doing?

Well, and slightly better on measures The News Tribune analyzed in 2005.

What's new on Hospital Care?

The government added information Thursday comparing how many people are alive a month after going to hospitals for heart attacks and heart failure.

How do local hospitals do on those scores?

About the same, with all matching the national hospital survival rate 30 days after heart attacks and heart failure.

Anything else I should now?

Patient satisfaction data is coming in 2008.

M. Alexander Otto, The News Tribune

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