Other Helpful Listings

AMA: 266 Clinical Performance Measures for Physicians, 2009 (pdf)  

The American Medical Association's Consortium for Performance Improvement has agreed on 266 measures in 42 clinical topics, that are supported by evidenced-based clinical guidelines. Topics include diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart care, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, stroke, pneumonia, emergency care, prenatal testing, cancer screening, smoking, prostate cancer care, ear and eye problems, depression, surgical infection prevention, GERD, end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, substance abuse, wound care and more. Written for medical professionals, but consumers might learn something about appropriate physician care

American Lung Association (lungusa.org)

Site includes extensive references for chronic lung disease such as asthma, COPD emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and other factors, such as smoking, that affect the lungs. The organization also maintains a HelpLine staffed by Registered Nurses and Registered Respiratory Therapists to answer your lung health questions at 1-800-LUNGUSA (or 800-548-8252). Or submit a question online to the ALA

California - 2008 HMO and Medical Group Ratings Report Card  

Compare California HMO health insurance plans: Aetna Health, Anthem Blue Cross HMO, Blue Shield, CIGNA, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern regions), PacifiCare and Western Health Advantage. Clear, simple star system used for overall rating. In addition, get more details about member satisfaction, complaint rates, asthma, cancer screening, child/adolescent health, diabetes, heart care, maternity care, mental health, back pain, immunization, and smoking cessation. Medical group ratings also provided by county for the larger groups of doctors. Prepared by the California state Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA), using 2007 data

California Health Insurance & Clinic Ratings, 2008 CCHRI Report (pdf)

Compare HMO health insurance plan ratings: Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente North, Kaiser Permanente S. Cal. and PacifiCare. Clinical performance (HEDIS measures) for prenatal maternity care, child illnesses & immunizations, ADHD, asthma, diabetes, depression and mental illness, heart attack, high blood pressure, cholesterol management, cancer screening, flu shot, back pain, osteoporosis and more. Consumer member satisfaction ratings listed in CAHPS section include Western Health Advantage scores. Physician group ratings for medical groups in Northern Cal. & southern CA listed in Patient Assessment survey section, include Hill Physicians, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter, Cedars-Sinai, High Desert, Prospect, Scripps, Sharp, Southern Cal. Permanente and more. Prepared by CCHRI (California Cooperative Healthcare Reporting Initiative), a group of employers, health plans, and health care providers across CA; 2008 CCHRI Report on Quality is 104 pages

Canada - Ontario - 2007 Hospital Reports (Balanced Scorecard)

Ontario's Balanced Scorecard approach to reporting hospital performance ratings on a province-wide basis. Compare hospitals in teaching, small hospital, and community hospital groupings. About 40 measures are presented in four quadrants: Clinical Utilization and Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, Financial Performance, and System Integration and Change. This innovative approach in public reporting may be similar to what some US hospitals use in their internal strategic planning. Developed by the Government of Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Hospital Association, Fiscal year 2005-06 data

Colorado 2008 Hospital Charges & Length of Stay (pdf)

Find 2008 average charges (prices), a likely range of costs, number of patients and average length of stay by CO hospital name, for 35 common inpatient medical conditions and surgical procedures. Shown by region, e.g. Denver area. At the end of each category (APR-DRG), statewide total averages are shown. You may read the pages free on online, but to be able to print any page, you may have to purchase the $250 report (322 pages). Published by the Colorado Hospital Association Aug. 2009

Florida Health Insurance Plans - Quality Ratings & Satisfaction  

Member Satisfaction and quality ratings for cancer screening, diabetes, heart care, maternity / prenatal, high blood pressure, heart care, asthma, immunization for HMOs, PPOs, Medicare HMOs and more. Aetna, America's Health Choice, Amerigroup, Av-Med, Blue Cross Blue Shield (Health Options), Capital, CarePlus, Cigna, Citrus, DoctorCare, Florida Health Care, Freedom Health, Great-West, Health First, Healthy Palm Beaches, HealthEase & Well Care, Humana, Leon Medical Centers, Medica, Neighborhood, Optimum, PartnerCare, Preferred, Public Health Trust of Dade Co. (JMH), Quality Health, Total Health Choice, United Healthcare, Universal, Vista. Uses 2005 to 2007 data. Search by county. No need to download a pdf to see the scores or the checkmark rankings

Health Topic Summaries: Cancer, Bypass, Hip, Knee, Pediatrics, COPD, more

A series of short summaries on common disease topics and health issues, made available by MHA, an association of Montana Health Care Providers from the COMPdata Monthly Monitors. Topics as of Nov 2007 included Cancer (general, prostate, breast, lung), heart bypass, and PCI, Pediatric care, Alzheimer's, Behavioral (mental) health, End of Life Care, Kidney Disease, Obesity, Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery, COPD, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Influenza, Traumatic Brain Injury, Asthma, Stroke and Diabetes. Summaries provide health information, and statistics about health care system utilization for that disease. Most use 2004 data, some have 2005 data. Consumers need not be from Montana to learn a lot about these health topics

Hospital Comparison Tool - Hospital Ratings & Cost Rankings (all states)  

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Mexico makes this Hospital Comparison Tool from HealthShare (WebMD) available to compare hospital care ANYWHERE in the country, mostly using Medicare data. No registration required. Gives results according to the importance you give to survival, complication rates, costs, volume and length of stay. Provides rankings, and crosses state lines when doing the search. Considerable detail on different types of complications if you keep delving deeper. Disease categories include Cancer, GI (e.g., appendectomy, colon or bowel surgery, gall bladder, hernia repair, gastric bypass), gynecology (e.g. hysterectomy), stroke (under head & neck), heart (e.g. attack, failure, angioplasty, cardiac bypass, catheterization, defibrillator, pacemaker, valve), lungs (e.g. pneumonia, COPD), medical, mother & baby (maternity, delivery for selected states only), orthopedic (e.g. hip or knee replacement), pediatric, prostatectomy, plastic/cosmetic surgery and heart, kidney, lung or liver transplants. Caution: it always assumes higher volume is preferred, which may not be valid. Patient satisfaction scores from the federal HospitalCompare tool shown, without disclosing dates.

Hospital Quality in US (Selected Conditions) 2009 Report

Accreditation agency Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) Annual Report identifies the percentage of hospital patients that received recommended care on more than 30 measures of quality for heart attack, heart failure care, pneumonia, surgical care (infection prevention only) and children's asthma. In aggregate, 2008 hospital performance went up in nearly all conditions, compared to 2007 and earlier data. Lowest surgical infection performance ratings continue for colon surgery and vascular surgery; discharge instructions for heart failure get mediocre scores (83%). Published Jan. 2010. See HospitalCompare if you want hospital names and performance results

Illinois Hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center Ratings and Prices (IDPH)

Compare IL hospitals on heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, knee arthroscopy, cardiac surgery, safety measures, infection rates, some survival information, patient satisfaction, more. See volume and 2008 median charges (closest you'll get to average cost) for selected types of inpatients (e.g. birth, c-section, appendectomy, COPD), and outpatients at ambulatory surgery centers (such as bunionectomy, hernia repair, colonoscopy, lens, lumpectomy, tonsillectomy). May get a full report for one hospital at a time (does not print correctly), or one measure at a time for multiple hospitals side-by-side, with state averages. Uses the dreaded pull-down menu, old 2008 prices and scores (Hospital Compare will have more recent information for some items); Infection rates use 2009 data. Hospital Report Card by IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) for all IL cities incl. Chicago area, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, Champaign. New Nov. 2009

Iowa Hospital PricePoint System - Inpatient Charges

Iowa Hospital PricePoint provides information about volumes and average 2008 charges (amount billed) at IA hospitals. Select one hospital to begin. Site allows 4 hospitals to be compared at one time (although we couldn't make this work) for charges, length of stay, number of cases and more. Provided by the Iowa Hospital Association, this is a starting point for comparing average cost of care between Iowa hospitals. Compare typical prices for surgery such as gall bladder removal, bowel surgery, knee joint replacement; childbirth and newborns, pneumonia, stroke, heart care, transplants, COPD, psych, rehab, and most medical conditions. Severity of illness can be specified. Consumers will need to inflate old prices to estimate current charges

Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care - Certified Hospitals

List of Primary Stroke Centers, Stroke Rehab, and other disease-specific care certified organizations in the US. Most are hospitals. Other certified programs include orthopedic joint replacement (hip, knee), COPD (most listed under A for Advanced COPD), sickle cell services, burn center, bariatric surgery, high-risk OB; bone marrow, heart, liver transplants; cancer (including breast, lung, pancreatic, prostate); diabetes; AAA, Alzheimer's, sleep program, wound care, spine treatment program, migraines, Parkinsons disease, ESRD, palliative care, epilepsy, congestive heart failure, heart failure, AMI, pneumonia and more. July 2010 list is 75 pages, and hard to use because health condition certifications are listed under multiple titles such as "Advanced"

Louisiana Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2010

Compare health plan quality and customer satisfaction for insurance plans Aetna, Connecticut General, Coventry, Group Health, HMO Louisiana Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, BC BS of LA, United Healthcare PPO, HMO POS. Quality scores for diabetes, maternity, postpartum, well child, cancer screening, blood pressure, asthma, chlamydia, medical care use HEDIS 2009 scores (2008 data). Try not to be surprised at how low some of the scores are. Not all plans report. New website by state government still has some bugs in it Feb 2010

Louisiana Hospital Ratings and Prices - LA Hospital Inform

Search by Parish. Must click on View Reports on the left side of page to see LA hospital-specific selected inpatient charges (e.g. child birth, C-section, hip or knee surgery, gall bladder removal, appendectomy, heart problems, stent, cardiac cath, stomach problems, stroke, kidney failure, COPD, pneumonia, more); outpatient Medicare prices include ER visits, heart tests such as cardiac cath, EKG, stress test, echo; CT scan, MRI, x-ray and ultrasound, GI endoscopy, mammography, more; Quality scores similar to those submitted to HospitalCompare. Louisiana Hospital Inform is sponsored by the Louisiana Hospital Association; Prices from 2006 (outpatient) and 2008 (inpatient)

Maine Doctor and Hospital Ratings, 2009  

Site by the Maine Health Management Coalition, a non-profit coalition of 60+ employers that includes health insurance companies, doctors, hospitals and employers such as Bath Iron Works, City of Portland, State employees, Bowdoin College. Compare doctor & clinic ratings (family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics) relative to using office systems, following clinical care guidelines, and measuring results of care for diabetes, heart disease and childhood asthma and immunizations. Sort by Ribbons puts the best performers at the top of the list. Hospital ratings include medication safety, the often-seen ratings for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia care and surgical infection prevention; patient satisfaction (HCAHPS) and easy to read Leapfrog results for major high-risk surgery. Physician data from 2007-2008. Editor's Pick for the Doctor Ratings. Updated 2009

Maryland HMO & Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2008-2009

Compare Aetna (Maryland, DC & Virginia), CareFirst BlueChoice, BluePreferred PPO, CIGNA, Connecticut General, Coventry, Kaiser Permanente, MD-IPA, MAMSI Life, and OCI Optimum Choice on member satisfaction (CAHPS) and HEDIS measures such as immunizations, children's health, cancer screening, heart and diabetes care, mental health behavioral care, spirometry for COPD, and more. Comprehensive report by Maryland Health Care Commission includes scores for prenatal care and high blood pressure control; enrollment market share. 2008/2009 Performance Report, released September 2008

Maryland Hospital Quality Ratings (MHCC)

Readmission Rates, volume, and average length of stay data on the most common groups of illnesses or conditions for which people are hospitalized in Maryland. Topics include heart conditions, lung conditions (including pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, asthma), hip and knee surgery, GI and digestive problems, septicemia, stroke and TIA, kidney failure, bowel procedures, diabetes, maternity and newborn care, seizures & headaches, and more. MD Hospital Performance Evaluation Guide shows 2006 or 2008 data, pub. by MD Health Care Commission

Massachusetts Medical Group Ratings and Patient Satisfaction 2007  

Compare the clinical performance of 150 Massachusetts medical groups (e.g., Atrius, Beth Israel, Lahey, Partners Community) providing preventive and chronic disease services for asthma, back pain, cancer screening, COPD, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney disease, pediatric care and more. Patient experiences with their primary care physicians for over 400 Massachusetts doctors offices. Site by Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP); 2007 health plan data (Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Fallon, Harvard Pilgrim, Health New England, and clinical scores from Tufts) published April 2009

Minnesota, ND, SD, WI - Physician Clinic Ratings - HealthScores  

Compare side-by-side (3 at a time) over 300 participating medical groups, hundreds of clinic locations and urgent care centers in Minnesota, Fargo, Grand Forks, Sioux Falls, and some WI communities for diabetes, vascular care, and mental health (depression). Some clinics also have patient satisfaction scores. Medical groups include Allina, Altru, Apple Valley, Aspen, Avera, Brainerd, Children's Physician Network, Dakota Clinic, Edina, Fairview, Fergus, Grand Itasca, Gundersen, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Lakewood, Mankato, Mayo Clinic, MeritCare, Innovis, North Memorial, Northstar, Olmsted, Osceola, Park Nicollet, Regina, Ridgeview, Sanford, St. Cloud CentraCare, St. Luke's, St. Mary's Duluth Clinic, Stillwater, United, University of Minnesota, Winona Clinic, and more; OB-GYN clinics, Urgent care such as Express, MinuteClinic, Priority Pediatrics. Separate Disparities report shows additional clinic ratings for Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care patients for cancer screening, controlling high blood pressure, heart (coronary artery) disease, asthma, immunization, appropriate care for children with colds and sore throats and more. Report by MN Community Measurement (founded by the MN Medical Association and seven non-profit health insurance plans). Unclear why dates of performance scores are not disclosed. Interactive easy-to-use format

Nevada Hospital 2004 Average Bill and Length of Stay (pdf)

Nevada selected 39 common medical and surgical diagnoses by DRG, and reports each hospital's average bill for each of the last five years. Sample DRGs: Stroke, COPD, Pneumonia, Asthma in kids, Heart Failure, Chest Pain, Bowel Procedures, Appendectomy, Gall Bladder, Hip Replacement, Back problems, Diabetes, Renal Failure, Hysterectomy, Births, Psychoses. Facility volumes and state-wide average charges also shown. Report title: Personal Health Choices.

New Jersey 2008 HMO Performance Report - Compare plans  

Compare six health insurance plans (HMO and POS): Aetna, AmeriHealth, CIGNA, Health Net, Horizon, and Oxford, on member-rated satisfaction with their medical care and customer service, and clinical measures related to asthma, cancer screening, heart care, hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, mammograms, new moms, immunizations, mental health and more. Easy to read; fast response. Pub. by NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance, Oct. 2008

New York and New Jersey 2008 HMO and Hospital Report Card (nyshaf.org)  

Compare cost and quality ratings for HMOs such as Aetna, AmeriHealth, Blue Choice, CDPHP, CIGNA, Community, Empire, GHI, Health Net, HIP, Independent, MVP, Oxford, Preferred Care, United & Univera side-by-side in NY and NJ, for diabetes, asthma, postpartum care, some cancer care, mental health, antibiotic use for children, low back pain care, Board-certified physicians, monthly health insurance premiums, overall patient satisfaction experience & more. Hospital quality comparisons on heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infections also provided for NY hospitals. Inpatient volumes, average length of stay and average price (charges) provided for appendectomy, asthma, maternity (incl. newborn & c-section delivery), chest pain, depressive neuroses, diabetes, gall bladder surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, hysterectomy, stroke, cardiac procedures, pneumonia, and COPD. Some survival ratings. Impressive list of measures, too numerous to mention. Health Care Report Card prepared by the NYS Health Accountability Foundation - a partnership of the NY Business Group on Health and IPRO (the QIO). Dates of data vary; HMO premiums are supposed to be current to the month

Ohio Hospital Charges and Utilization, 2007 (ohio.gov)

Ohio.gov Web site shows DRG (diagnosis related groups) inpatient charges (the closest available for average cost) and volumes by hospital. Public Warehouse data. Must know DRGs in order to find the procedure prices you want. Common hospitalizations: childbirth/ maternity & newborn delivery, heart problems, gall bladder, hysterectomy, pneumonia, stroke, rehab, joint surgery. Top 60 types of hospital stays

Oklahoma - Average Hospital Inpatient Charges, 2007

Find the average charge (closest available to inpatient cost) for a hospital stay by Principal Diagnosis (i.e., disease) or DRG. Statewide or county-specific statistics on volume and average length of stay also found in this dataset. May specify data for a certain age group and sex. Geared to researchers and health care professionals, rather than for consumers. If this website was meant for consumers, it would get the User-Unfriendly Award. 2007 data are the most recent available from the OK State Dept. of Health's Health Care Information

Pennsylvania Hospital Performance Report 2008 | PHC4 (Sept. 2009)  

Compare PA hospitals on Mortality Rating (relative survival rate), Average Charge (price), Length of Stay, and Readmissions. Thirty one (31) conditions in the pdf prepared reports include heart failure, abnormal heartbeat, heart attack, angioplasty and stent, pneumonia, stomach and intestinal bleeding, stroke, (laparoscopic & open) gallbladder removal, hip fracture, COPD, blood clots, colorectal procedures, diabetes, kidney failure, urinary tract infections, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, hysterectomy, septicemia, (radical and transurethral) prostatectomy, respiratory failure with & without mechanical ventilation, intestinal obstruction & carotid endarterectomy. Grouped by region. Use the Create your Own Report feature to access 20 additional conditions such as Brain surgery, medical back care, bronchitis & asthma, cirrhosis, liver disease, pancreatic cancer, stomach disorders, vascular procedures and more. Symbols for Mortality ratings can be confusing - a higher mortality rating means worse survival (we think). Contains helpful glossary for diagnoses & surgical procedures. Probably the most comprehensive report for hospital care in the country. Data from Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008

Prevention Makes Common "Cents"

Detailed report by US Department of Health and Human Services (September 2003) addressing the cost of disease and illness. Specific sections are included on Overweight and Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease, Asthma, and Tobacco Use. Metabolic Syndrome also discussed

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care - Chartbook 2008 (pdf)  

Excellent, comprehensive chartbook by The Commonwealth Fund showing differences by race and ethnicity in health status, life expectancy (mortality), health insurance coverage, access, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, mental distress, screening tests and much more. Discusses value of Medical Homes. Top notch charts, with most recent available data. Pub. March 2008

Rhode Island - Health Insurance Plan Ratings, 2007 (pdf)

Compare three health insurance plans in Rhode Island (Blue Cross BC-RI, United Healthcare NE and Blue Cross -MA). Clinical quality scores such as cancer screening, diabetes care, heart attack care, and mental health care, plus information about access to prenatal care, well child, immunizations and asthma care; member satisfaction levels with their health plans, market share enrollment levels; profits; 2004-2007 data. Published by RI Health Insurance Commissioner (Dept. of Health) March 2009

South Dakota Average Charges for Top 25 Inpatient Hospital Stays - Statewide 2007

Data on median charges (typical prices) for 25 high-frequency SD inpatient hospitalizations and surgery. Includes newborns ($2025) and uncomplicated deliveries ($5244), Cesarean section; psychoses ($6404) and depression ($4996); complicated pneumonia, COPD ($9905); hip, knee, joint replacement ($31,450); back problems; heart failure ($10,640), Stent ($26,229), chest pain; digestive, stomach and abdominal procedures; hysterectomy ($15,763, up 15% from 2006); stroke; rehabilitation ($19,495, up 15%); kidney failure ($14,776) and more. To find the usual price for a specific hospital or surgical center, click on Hospitals in the upper right of the web page. Pub. June 2008 by SD Department of Health, 2007 prices

South Dakota Hospital Quality Ratings and Patient Opinions - free

Compare quality of SD hospitals on heart attack, heart failure care, pneumonia, preventing infections in surgery patients, children's asthma, and overall patient satisfaction recommendations. Readmission and survival ratings are also shown for heart and pneumonia. CheckPoint site by SDAHO (hospital association) uses 2008 data for most measures. Same data as reported to CMS HospitalCompare (time periods may differ), but here all hospitals are side-by-side. State average and the best 10% scores are shown

Texas - Guide to Texas HMO Quality 2008 (OPIC)  

Lengthy (212 pages) but valuable report showing detailed clinical quality comparisons between HMO health insurance plans for indicators such as asthma, childhood immunizations, cancer screening, heart care, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes care, prenatal care, mental health care, flu shots, ER visit rates, rates of physician board certification, and more. Pub. by TX Office of Public Insurance Council Oct. 2008

Texas PricePoint - Compare Hospital Inpatient Charges (Prices)

If you are looking for average cost of hospital care or surgery, the 2007 prices at this site by the Texas Hospital Association might be the closest you can find. Information for one hospital at a time (no side-by-side comparisons) for maternity, childbirth, newborn, c-section; hip or knee replacement, fracture repair; pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, asthma; heart failure, chest pain, cardiac cath, bypass, stent, heart transplant; mental health, psychiatric hospitalization, depression; alcohol rehab; bowel surgery; back problems including spinal fusion and more. Volumes at each hospital are shown.

Utah Inpatient Hospital Charges, 2008 - Utah PricePoint

Utah provides average charges (price) statewide, and on a hospital-specific basis for many common inpatient stays, such as pneumonia, stroke, appendectomy, hip and knee procedures, gall bladder surgery, hysterectomy, heart failure, heart attack, chest pain, coronary bypass, heart valve procedures, vaginal and cesarean deliveries, newborn births, chemotherapy, psychoses, alcohol or drug abuse, rehabilitation, back and neck procedures, digestive disorders, abdominal surgery, nutritional/metabolic problems, transplants and much more. Volumes (2008 data) and length of stay are included; does not include average cost for physicians. Consumers may adjust for 2010 costs by adding 2-year price inflation. As with other PricePoint Systems, view one UT hospital at a time. Utah Hospital Assn

Vermont - Compare Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2009 (pdf)

Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield of VT, CIGNA, MVP, and The Vermont Health Plan, on consumer and patient experiences; how well the plans do cancer screening, flu shot and other immunizations, antibiotic use in kids, prenatal care, asthma & bronchitis care, mental health treatment, back pain evaluation, blood pressure mgmt, alcohol dependence, arthritis and COPD care. State BISHCA report by Dept. of Banking, Insurance uses 2009 CAHPS and 2008 HEDIS data; 11 pages

Virginia - Compare HMOs (Quality and Satisfaction)  

Easy to use tool to compare insurance plan ratings: Aetna, CapitalCare, CareFirst BlueChoice, CIGNA, HealthKeepers, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic, MD IPA, Optima, Optimum Choice, Peninsula, Piedmont, Priority, Southern, UnitedHealthcare including River Valley. Choose measures for access, asthma, ADHD, heart, diabetes, arthritis, immunizations, medications, mental health, preventive care, low back pain, spirometry for COPD, prenatal, maternity and newborn care; well child visits and childhood illnesses, member satisfaction for 2007. Also includes Board certification rates for some types of physicians, number of enrollees, and financial data

WA Premera Blue Cross - Medical Clinic Quality & Patient Satisfaction Ratings 2008  

Fifteen (15) clinics participating in Premera Blue Cross' Quality Score Card report quality performance on asthma, breast and cervical cancer screening, diabetes, ear infection and well child visits, heart disease, cholesterol screening, use of generic drugs; patient satisfaction with appointment times, waiting times and overall quality, and more. Clinics: Columbia, Lakeshore, Madrona, Minor & James, MultiCare, Pacific, Pediatric Associates, Physicians (Spokane), Rockwood, Swedish, Everett Clinic, Polyclinic First Hill, UW Medicine Neighborhood, Virginia Mason Medical, and Wenatchee Valley. Washington state including Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Bellevue, Bothell, Bellingham

WA Puget Sound Clinic and Hospital Quality Ratings (WACommunityCheckup.org)  

Compare care among 82 physician medical groups (nearly 240 clinic locations) in the Seattle Tacoma Olympia Bremerton region, in counties of King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap & Thurston. Includes Cardiac Study Center, Evergreen, Franciscan, Group Health, Harborview, Highline, International, Lakeshore, Minor & James, MultiCare, Northwest, Overlake, Pacific Medical, Planned Parenthood, Providence, Puget Sound, Sea-mar, Southlake, Summit View, Swedish, Doctors' Clinic, The Everett Clinic, Polyclinic, UW Medicine Neighborhood, Valley Medical Center, Virginia Mason, Western WA, a variety of Cardiology, Family Medicine, Public Health, OB-GYN, and Pediatric groups and others. Clinics voluntarily reported on how well they cared for millions of insured non-Medicare patients in asthma, diabetes, heart disease, back pain, depression, antibiotic & generic drug use, and early screening for breast & cervical cancers, and chlamydia (under mislabeled Prevention title). Ground-breaking in its scope of participation by doctors. No composite scores; users will also likely experience difficulties in printing results the way they want. Compare over 25 hospitals in region for heart care, pneumonia, surgery (preventing infections and blood clots), and patient satisfaction experience. Health Alliance Community Checkup by Puget Sound Health Alliance, uses 2007-2008 data. July 2009

Washington Hospital Quality Ratings and Satisfaction Levels: Heart, Pneumonia, Surgery, Asthma

Compare WA hospital scores for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgical Prevention of Surgical Infections and Blood Clots, children's Asthma Care, and patient opinions. Mortality (survival) data for heart care and pneumonia. Consumers can find much of this information at the federal HospitalCompare site, but here all hospitals are side-by-side and may be easier to see. Most data are 2008; CheckPoint site by the Washington State Hospital Association

Wisconsin Hospitals PricePoint (Average Inpatient Prices)

Average charge and length of stay for common hospitalizations including maternity and newborn births, hip or knee replacement surgery, gallbladder removal, heart surgery, angioplasty, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), valves, cardiac cath, pacemaker, pneumonia, bipolar and other mental health, stroke, asthma, back care, asthma, COPD, rehab; kidney, heart, lung or other transplant; hysterectomy, prostate surgery, bowel surgery & more; Top 25 shown in a short report for each hospital. From WHA Information Center, part of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, using 2008-2009 data. Last year's charges are currently the closest information consumers are able to find about average costs; surgeon fees NOT included. It takes a few screens, but you can compare four hospitals (anywhere in the state) at one time. Wisc. Hospital Assn. created the PricePoint System now used in other states. Also shows charity care and inpatient volumes