Other Helpful Listings

20 Most Expensive Conditions Requiring Hospital Stay, 2006 (pdf)

Heart disease (patients often received PTCA or CABG procedures), childbirth, heart attack (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), sepsis, osteoarthritis, pneumonia, complication of a device, implant or graft, and respiratory failure were the top 10 of a list of 20 health conditions that cost the nation the most in hospital charges in 2006 - to the tune of 52% of the total national hospital bill. Bills to private insurance included back pain and complications of surgical procedures or medical care in their top 10; Medicare had Stroke and cardiac dysrhythmias in their top ten; Medicaid included schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorders; and the uninsured included skin infections, major injuries and fractures, & diabetes hospitalization. 12-page Statistical Brief #59 by AHRQ uses 2006 HCUP data; released September 2008

Accredited Healthcare Facilities - Joint Commission Accreditation (all states)  

The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredits hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Quality Check provides accreditation and comparison information for hospitals, home health/hospice, laboratories, some nursing homes & assisted living centers, and other health care services. Click on View Accreditation Quality Report to see actual scores for 2008-2009

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

Arkansas Average Inpatient Charges - Top 30 hospital stays (pdf)

Average charges (prices) per patient for the Top 30 hospitalizations (DRGs) in AR, such as newborn and maternity delivery, psychoses, rehabilitation, heart failure, pneumonia, COPD, digestive disorders, hip or knee replacement, chest pain, cardiac cath, diabetes, asthsma, stroke, hysterectomy (DRG 743), septicemia, Kidney failure, UTI, cellulitis and more. Overall, prices were $12,126 per case ($2737 per day) in 2007. For reference, a normal delivery for mother & baby cost $7873 (add $6466 for C-Section without complications); a 12.5-day rehabilitation stay cost $21,628; hip or knee replacement averaged $33,090 ($9166 per day); drug-eluting stent DRG 247 was $18,158 per day for $37,043 per case on average. Huge file; slow download. Summer 2009 report (page 22) by the Arkansas Hospital Association shows 2007 prices. Consumers may expect higher prices in 2009

Arkansas Hospital Volumes, Prices, Quality Ratings - by name of hospital

Find average charges (a proxy for average costs) for 40 common hospitalizations at specific AR hospitals by Clicking on INPATIENT PRICING after you've selected your hospital. Price List varies by hospital, but may include maternity and childbirth, stroke, chest pain, stomach disorders, back pain, nutritional problems (diabetes), blood infection (septicemia), rehabilitation, heart attack, cardiac cath, drug coated stent, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, urinary infection, COPD, pneumonia, total hip or knee replacement surgery, hysterectomy, psychiatric care, ventilator support and more. Note: Definitions conflict for whether data such as Volumes are Medicare-only, or reflect all patients. To find quality scores on heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia or surgical infections, and patient opinions, click on QUALITY at each hospital's page. Hospital Consumer Assist is provided by the Arkansas Hospital Association. Prices from 2007; Quality and Patient Satisfaction scores are more current, using 2009 ratings

California - Average Inpatient and Outpatient Hospital Prices, 2008(pdf)

Find average hospital prices for California's inpatient cases and top 25 types of outpatient procedures or surgery by CPT code) for each hospital. Outpatient reports may show prices for Emergency Dept. visit. Very difficult for the average consumer to use, since files are in Excel file format. But the good news is that the prices are current to June, 2008.

California - Community-Acquired Pneumonia Hospital Ratings, 2003-2005

Find the 48 better-performing hospitals in California with higher survival rates for pneumonia patients. Risk-adjusted mortality rate was 8.2% for the top hospitals compared to the 47 worse-performing hospitals with risk-adjusted rate of 16.7%. Statewide mortality (death) rate for nearly 209,000 patients (ages 18 and up) was 12.2%. Two-page Executive Summary and Chart 1 will tell most consumers what they want to know by identifying specific hospitals; 73% of hospitals performed as expected; 3 Scripps hospitals on the best list; 7 Kaiser hospitals and Loma Linda on the worst. Report released June 2008

California: www.CalHospitalCompare.org - Hospital Quality Ratings & Patient Satisfaction  

CA hospital quality ratings for heart attack, heart failure, heart bypass surgery (including mortality/ survival rate), pneumonia, ICU mortality rate, preventing surgical infections & complications, maternity care (e.g. breast-feeding and c-sections), and patient opinion ratings. Most data from 2008 to 2009, but some date to 2003. Compare 5 hospitals at once to find Superior Hospitals. Consumers may be surprised at the number of times they see a Poor performance rating. When viewing hospital report, click on View All, or you'll miss half the information. Web site by the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) in partnership with UCSF and CHART

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

Colorado Hospital Quality Ratings, Report Card

Colorado Hospital Association website shows hospital-specific data on mortality (survival rates) and volume. Mortality Measures show survival rate information for heart care (heart failure, PTCA angioplasty, heart attack AMI, or cardiac bypass CABG), pneumonia, stroke, neck artery surgery (CEA) hip replacement, hip fracture, bleeding stomach (GI), or craniotomy. Compare CO hospitals on Patient Safety bedsores (pressure sores/ decubitus ulcer), post-surgical blood clots (DVT, PE), and sepsis (bloodstream infections). Volumes for four procedures (cardiac bypass, PTCA, carotid endarterectomy, and AAA [abdominal aortic aneurysm]) where quality has been associated with higher volumes also shown, although the desired volume levels are not given. Risk-adjusted 2007 data, all patients

Connecticut - Hospital Quality Ratings

Use the left navigation bar to find CT hospital performance trends on individual measures related to heart attack (8 measures), heart failure (4), pneumonia (6) and surgical infection prevention (2). Website maintained by Connecticut Hospital Association. Note, the national Hospital Compare website may have more complete and current information about CT hospitals

Florida Inpatient Hospital Ratings, Average Charges, Survival Rates, Readmissions  

Search feature, mortality (survival rates), complication rates, volume, and average charges (price range), 2007-2008 data. (We couldn't find the readmission rates.) All age groups (not just Medicare), extensive set of health conditions/diseases, and the ability to rank order by top hospitals at the head of the list. Click on the hospital name to see actual risk-adjusted mortality rates for heart attack, stroke, heart failure (CHF), GI hemorrhage, hip fracture, hip replacement, pneumonia, AAA repair, heart bypass, craniotomy, surgery to remove the pancreas, or esophageal resection. Compare hospitals on infections, iatrogenic pneumothorax, and post-op sepsis. Hysterectomy listed under Women's Health instead of Surgery. FloridaHealthFinder.gov

Georgia Hospital Price Check - Compare costs by name of hospital

Georgia Hospital Association shows GA hospital comparisons on Price (the closest available to average cost). Common hospital stays and surgery prices are listed similar to other pricepoint systems. An overall Quality Index is also provided for each hospital to help consumers make a value choice. Average charges from 2007

Georgia Hospitals - Compare Hospital Quality Ratings

Georgia Hospital Association's GA Hospital Quality Check, Insights, compares hospitals on heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia measures (similar to HospitalCompare), and also adds Neonatal Mortality and measures related to pregnancy. Graphs may not always load properly for AOL users and Internet Explorer users. Data from 2008

HealthInsight: National Rankings for Hospitals (all states)  

Overall hospital rankings based on a summary of AMI (heart attack), heart failure, pneumonia disease and surgical infection prevention rankings, plus patient opinions. Health Insight, the QIO for Utah and Nevada, developed a helpful composite ranking for nearly every hospital in the nation, using 25 national CMS measures and satisfaction ratings from inpatients. Results shown by state. Easier to use than the federal HospitalCompare website, but less detail, and Mortality ratings do not appear to be included. Updated with 2008 data, September 2009

Hospital Compare - hospitalcompare.hhs.gov (all states) - Heart care, pneumonia, surgical infections  

Federal government compares hospital care ratings on measures for heart attack (AMI), heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention. Data include heart failure and heart attack mortality, also percent of heart attack patients given PCI (such as stent or balloon angioplasty) within 90 minutes of arrival. Shows patient satisfaction HCAHPS ratings. Readmission rates for Medicare (these illnesses only) added in 2009. Editor's Pick because the government standardized its ratings for all hospitals, and most ratings are based on more than just Medicare patients. Hospital participation is voluntary; small volume hospitals will not show data for some measures. 2008-2009 data. Hospitals may refer to these measures as the CMS measures. Updated 2010

Hospital Compare Mortality Tool - Pneumonia and Heart Care (Medicare.gov)  

For consumers who want a quick check on the hospitals in their area to find survival rate information (Medicare only), this Mortality Tool from the federal government is very fast and easy to use. Shows 30-day mortality rates (death rates) for pneumonia, heart attack and heart failure patients. Find and Compare Hospital Mortality Graphs by zip code and a distance up to 500 miles. 2005-2008 data, released July 2009

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

Hospital Ratings at HealthGrades (all states) 2010  

Hospital Ratings (5-star, 3-star, 1-star) for about 30 diseases & inpatient procedures: Stroke, back surgery, COPD, diabetes, gall bladder surgery (cholecystectomy), bowel obstruction, GI Bleed, hip fracture repair, total hip replacement, knee replacement, prostatectomy, respiratory failure, pneumonia, cardiac bypass, heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty/ stent, valve replacement, sepsis, pancreatitis, peripheral vascular bypass & more. Free information on survival rates or complication rates if you click on the GOLD CROSS at the left. Medicare-only data for most conditions, although some states provide maternity, appendectomy, and bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) data. More extensive list than the federal government's site. Free hospital ratings are easy to use and cover all states. BEWARE, the site will try to sell you other services ($17.95+) that you may not need if use the free listings at consumerhealthratings.com. Publicly-traded company. Most 2010 ratings use data from 2006 to 2008; some data may be older. To see all hospitals in a state, do NOT select city. AOL users should use another browser. Updated October 2009

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

Illinois Hospital Ratings - free (IHA)

Compare up to 3 IL hospitals at a time for patient satisfaction, heart care, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, readmission rates, some volume-sensitive conditions, and average length of stay for just about as many types of hospitalization that you might think of. Most reports show 2008-2009 data. Can focus by city such as Chicago or Rockford. From the Illinois Hospital Association

Immunization Schedules - Official CDC Recommendations - Updated

Find the recommended immunizations for babies, children, teens, college students and older adults. Includes recommendations for DTP, MMR, rotavirus vaccine, HPV (Gardasil), meningitis, varicella (chicken pox), seasonal flu and pneumonia shots, shingles and more. See recommendation that all kids ages 6 months to 18 yrs and adult household contacts of children under 5, be vaccinated for Influenza (TIV or LAIV)

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

Iowa Hospital Quality, Safety and Satisfaction Ratings 2009  

Compare Iowa hospitals on heart care, pneumonia, readmissions, patient safety (including deaths of patients who were unlikely to die during hospitalization in [low-mortality DRGs]); surgical care, including survival rates (mortality info) for hip replacement surgery; infection prevention and more. Patient satisfaction recommendations and ratings also shown. Interactive report only; must be familiar with drop-down menus. Use the Table of Contents to find which measures show hospital names, rather than state averages. 2009 Iowa Report by the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (based in Des Moines, IA) uses 2007 and 2008 data

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"

Kentucky Hospital Ratings - free (KHA)

Compare KY hospitals side-by-side on inpatient quality for survival rates (mortality) for heart bypass (CABG), heart attack, heart failure, stroke, GI hemorrhage, hip fracture, pneumonia, angioplasty, and brain surgery. Also compare hospital rates on safety, such as hospital-acquired infections, unexpected deaths (e.g. failure to rescue), postoperative sepsis, surgical complications. Some info on births, c-sections, and more. Kentucky Hospital Association data for 2007-2008

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 - Average Inpatient Charge for Common Hospital Stays (2006)

Average inpatient hospital costs (charges) in Maine in 2006 averaged $4701 for Childbirth delivery plus $1641 for the newborn. Add $5238 for an uncomplicated C-Section. COPD, pneumonia and heart failure cases ran $11,000-12,000 per case. Typical charges for hip or knee joint replacement were $27,543 and hysterectomy (DRG 359) was $10,618. Find average prices here for GI disorders, chest pain, psychoses, alcohol/ drug rehab, chest pain, stroke (DRG 14) and septicemia. From the State of Maine. Physician fees not included. No updates for 2009

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 Hospital Pricing Guide, May 2009 (pdf)

Average charges (prices) and volumes statewide and by MD hospital name for 15 most common inpatient diagnoses (severity adjusted using APR-DRGs) - including newborns (avg. $1621), childbirth vaginal delivery ($5263), c-section (avg. $7393), heart failure, chest pain, angina, cardiac arrhythmia, percutaneous cardiovascular procedures (PTCA), pneumonia, COPD ($7434), septicemia, cellulitis, knee joint replacement (up 10% to avg. $21,565), bipolar admissions ($7761 state avg.) and urinary tract infections. Data from 2007 - 2008. Not included: costs for cancer, stroke, hysterectomy, rehabilitation, digestive problems. By MD Health Care Commission MHCC May 2009

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 Hospital Quality, Cost, Surgeon Volume Information (mass.gov)

Massachusetts Health and Human Services department reports quality ratings, cost comparisons, volume and in some cases inpatient survival rates (mortality indicators). Nearly 50 conditions and procedures covered, including inpatient gall bladder removal surgery, hip fracture, hip and knee replacement, stroke, GI hemorrhage, heart attack, heart failure, CABG, PCI, Pneumonia, Obstetrics and Maternity care, including cesarean section and VBAC, prostatectomy, gastric bypass and other digestive procedures, AAA repair and carotid endarterectomy. In some cases, individual surgeons are named (e.g. physicians who did at least 40 radical prostatectomy operations in a year, or how many knee replacements by orthopedic surgeons) Uses FY2005 volumes and FY2004 cost data. Site is relatively user-friendly, but is becoming outdated. Information varies by procedure. Read closely to see if it's Medicare-only or all types of patients

Medicare - Other Hospital Inpatient Charges - 12 DRGs (June 2007)

In the second file at this site, called Other Inpatient Hospital DRGs of High Utilization, you can find number of cases by county and state, and average charges for Chronic lung disease (COPD), pneumonia, heart bypass with cardiac cath, AAA repair (DRG 110), pacemaker implant, heart attack, heart failure, chest pain, large or small bowel procedures, diabetes, angioplasty with stent, heart valve procedures, and others. Average Medicare payment might give consumers an idea of average cost and cost-shifting. Pacemaker Implant example shows national average charge of $40,752, with average Medicare payment of $12,689 (a 69% discount!) Must know Excel, and be able to find your DRG. Organized by state and county; Fiscal year 2006 data. Not very user-friendly nor current, but it is a place to start.

Michigan - Compare Hospitals in SE Michigan  

The Greater Detroit Area Health Council has teamed up with WebMD to provide a 7-county version similar to Medscape/WebMD's other national tools and the CMS Hospital Compare tool, to create a Health Care Performance Report. Compare MI hospitals (side-by-side) for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, Medicare mortality (survival rate) for heart attack, CABG and PCI; some safety measures and volume. Includes Detroit, Ann Arbor, Pontiac and counties: Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, and St. Clair. Details provided when you click on the hospital's name and scroll for full report. Data from 2006 and 2007

Michigan Hospital Prices, Patient Opinion and Quality Ratings

Michigan Hospital Association's MI Hospital Inform web site shows Medicare charges, payments (how much Medicare pays, so you get an idea of average cost) and volumes for the top 50 most common inpatient and 50 outpatient services at 144 nonprofit hospitals. Includes services like clinic visit (without the doctor's charge), ER visit, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound. Inpatient conditions like stroke (DRG 14), hip, knee or ankle surgery (DRG 544), GI problems, psych admission, heart problems also show average Medicare charges. Patient Satisfaction (HCAHPS) and Quality ratings like those at CMS hospital compare are listed for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention, except the dates may be older here (2007-2008 data) and no side-by-side comparisons. Prices from 2006-2007, one hospital at a time

Minnesota - Hospital Price Check (Inpatient & Outpatient)

Hospital-specific prices (charges) for the 50 most common inpatient hospitalizations (DRGs) and top 25 same-day surgery procedures in MN. Find average or median inpatient cost, volume and length of stay for newborns and child birth delivery, pneumonia, chest pain, COPD, hip or knee replacement, appendectomy, cellulitis, hysterectomy, rehab, other surgeries & many more. Outpatient prices for biopsies, cataracts, colonoscopy, ear tubes, gallbladder, hernia repair, arthroscopy, tonsillectomy, upper GI endoscopy, hysteroscopy, carpal tunnel and other same-day surgery. Must know the County in order to select which hospital's prices you want. See one hospital and one procedure at a time; by Minnesota Hospital Association, 2007 prices

Minnesota Hospital Quality Ratings, 2009

A joint effort between the Minnesota Hospital Association and its QIO (Stratis Health) reports care ratings for heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention. Charts show composite scores, are prettier than at the federal CMS, and consumers can compare all MN hospitals at once. Similar to performance ratings available at the federal site, excluding mortality comparisons; 2007-2008 data

Missouri Typical Inpatient Charges and Hospital-Specific Volumes (pdf)

Median charges for 60 most common inpatient medical conditions and surgeries at 109 Missouri hospitals. Information grouped by St. Louis, Kansas City, MO, mid-sized city hospitals and rural markets. Only general prices are shown by region, but you can see how much is charged, vs. how much is usually collected. Example: About $18,000 charged for Stroke, but $6600 is usually collected. Similar information for hip and knee replacement (median price $35,543 in Kansas City; $12,177 usually collected). This may be the closest you will find to average cost. Numbers of cases treated at each hospital, average length of stay, and the lower amounts that Medicare and Medicaid usually pay also shown. Includes COPD, Pneumonia, Heart care including stents, valves & cardiac cath, Bowel surgery, GI hemorrhage, Back problems, Renal failure, Kidney and UTI, Hysterectomy, Childbirth, Rehab, Stomach problems, Hernia (inpatient), Gall bladder (open and laparoscopic), prostatectomy, spinal fusion, some cancer care and more. Data from 2004-2005 is most recent available

Montana Hospital Inpatient Charges - Compare Prices

Montana PricePoint shows average charges at MT hospitals for inpatient stays (2007-2008 prices), including newborns, deliveries, Cesarean section, knee or hip replacement, rehab, psychiatric hospitalization, back problems, heart failure, stent, chest pain, bowel surgery, more. Many hospitalizations (such as diabetes, kidney or urinary tract infections, appendectomy, inpatient gall bladder removal) can only be found by using the comprehensive search. Site by MHA-An Association of Montana Health Care Providers

Nebraska Hospital PricePoint System (Inpatient Charges)

Find average price and typical charges for many types of inpatient hospital stays in NE. Examples: maternity prices, angioplasty, heart surgery, some cancer services, hip & knee surgery, bowel surgery, pneumonia, stroke, UTI, gall bladder surgery (inpatient only). Includes volume, average length of stay in the hospital, and median age of patient. Does not include physician costs. Shows one hospital/ one disease or condition at a time; 2007-2008 data. All cities including Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Creighton, Norfolk, Kearney. NHA Care Compare is sponsored by the Nebraska Hospital Association

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.

Nevada Hospital Ratings and Patient Satisfaction Scores

Nevada Hospital Association shows NV hospitals' performance ratings on Heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention, plus patient opinion ratings. Shows 2008-2009 data for same hospital performance measures as CMS HospitalCompare website (no composite scores). Consumers may view all hospitals in the state side-by-side

New Hampshire Hospital Ratings (Heart, pneumonia, surgery, satisfaction) 2008

NHQualityCare compares New Hampshire hospitals' performance ratings for Heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia care and surgical infection prevention, plus patient satisfaction and willingness to recommend (see page 2). More current than many sites, using 2008 data, and achievable benchmark shown. Consumers encouraged to compare Composite Scores at the end of each health topic. NHQualityCare.org is a partnership between two nonprofits: Foundation for Healthy Communities and the Northeast Health Care Quality Foundation (QIO). Updated 2009

New Hampshire PricePoint System (Inpatient Charges)

Find average price and typical charges for 64 types of inpatient hospitalizations in NH. Examples: maternity prices, heart surgery, pacemaker, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, psychiatric hospitalization. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time; 2007 data shown. By the New Hampshire Hospital Association

New Jersey 2009 Hospital Performance Report Card - heart, pneumonia, surgical infections

Guide for comparing NJ hospitals on Heart Attacks, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, and Surgical Infection Prevention prepared by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. Individual hospitals' overall quality of performance in 2008 ranged from 81% to 100%. Top 10% hospitals are shown. Details are available including mortality rates for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, stroke, and CABG. Patient Safety Indicators use 2007 data. Easy to use. Released Oct. 2009

New Mexico CheckPoint - Hospital Quality Ratings 2008

Compare hospital performance ratings side-by-side for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia quality (medical scores ranged from 9% to 100%), and surgical infection prevention (scores from 40% [Lovelace] to 98% [Carlsbad). Similar information as CMS website, except that time periods may differ and this site does not show mortality ratings. 2007 data from the New Mexico Hospital Association (NMHHSA)

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

New York City Public Hospitals and Nursing Home Ratings 2009  

Compare quality of care ratings for 11 NYC public hospitals (Bellevue, Coney Island, Elmhurst in Flushing, Harlem, Jacobi, Kings County, Lincoln, Metropolitan, North Central Bronx, Queens in Jamaica, and Woodhull in Brooklyn). Topics: heart care and survival rates for heart attack and heart failure; pneumonia, and preventing infections associated with central lines, ventilators (VAP) and surgery. Four nursing homes (Coler-Goldwater, Gourverneur, McKinney, Sea View)also can be compared for pressure ulcers (bedsores), pain management and preventing falls. NYC.gov site uses 2006-2008 data. Nice site, with improved format for facility-specific information. Impressive gains have been made in reducing infections. Editor's pick for the hospital Infections info & nursing home comparisons

New York State 2009 Honor Roll for Inpatient Hospital Care  

List shows NY hospitals with 3 stars with the best inpatient quality ratings - whose risk-adjusted mortality (death) rates in 2007 were statistically significantly lower than the state average (better survival rates). Conditions include congestive heart failure survival, heart attack survival, postoperative pulmonary embolism, DVT, hematoma, or sepsis, stroke survival, pneumonia survival, hip fracture survival, GI hemorrhage, craniotomy survival, PTCA, iatrogenic pneumothorax, accidental puncture. Prepared by the Niagra Health Quality Coalition

New York State 2009 Hospital Report Card (SM)

Compare hospitals in Central NY, Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson, Nassau-Suffolk, New York City, Northeast, and Western regions for survival rates: AAA, carotid endarterectomy, CABG, craniotomy, esophageal resection, pancreas removal, PTCA and pediatric heart surgery, hip replacement & hip fracture death rates, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, pneumonia and GI Hemorrhage survival. Patient safety performance on hospital infections, collapsed lung, postop pulmonary embolism or sepsis, and other information for maternity and surgery (e.g. gall bladder) also included. Myhealthfinder.com is a service of the Alliance for Quality Health Care & the Niagara Health Quality Coalition. Reports for 2009 analyzed patients from 2007

New York State Hospital Quality Ratings - nyhealth.gov

Select NY hospitals to compare in seven areas: Appropriate Heart Attack care; Heart Failure care; Pneumonia; Surgical infection prevention; Adult CABG or Pediatric cardiac surgery mortality (death) rates; and Angioplasty mortality rates. The search by procedure feature shows volume of common inpatient surgeries like inpatient gall bladder removal and kidney transplants. Most data from 2008; death rates from 2006. Side-by-side comparisons do not work for 2008-2009 volumes; view individual hospital reports to see data. State Department of Health site. Able to search by region such as Long Island

North Carolina Hospital Ratings Heart, Pneumonia, Surgical Infections

Compare NC hospital performance (grouped by region) for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgical Infection Prevention. Consumers can find similar information at the federal HospitalCompare site, but here all hospitals are side-by-side and may be easier to see by region. Site by the North Carolina Hospital Association; 2008 data

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

Ohio Hospitals - Top 60 Inpatient Hospital Prices (OHA)

As required by the Ohio Department of Health, the average and typical prices for the top 60 most common hospitalizations are listed by Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) for all payer cases. Reports published by the Ohio Hospital Association show volume, average charge and length of stay. No side-by-side comparisons. Surgery procedures and hospitalizations (such as joint replacement, delivery, hysterectomy [DRG 358], psychiatric admission, COPD, etc.) are listed in the order of volume for each hospital, requiring consumers to search for the condition they want, and check each individual hospital's report. 2008 data

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

Oklahoma PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

Find average 2007 price and typical charges for many types of inpatient hospitalizations in OK. Examples: childbirth delivery prices, heart surgery, cardiac cath, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, pneumonia, psychiatric hospitalization, rehab. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Hospital Association. Consumers will need to inflate the old 2007 charges to estimate 2010 prices

Oregon Hospital Quality Ratings (heart, pneumonia, surgery, satisfaction scores)

Oregon's hospital association (OAHHS) provides almost the same information here as reported for the national HospitalCompare website, but the site is easier to use, since it shows the data all at once across the state. Four types of quality measures are shown: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and hospital infections (surgery); plus patient satisfaction scores; Medicare mortality (death) rates and readmission rates for heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia. Most data from 2008-2009

Oregon Hospital Survival Ratings and Selected Procedure Volumes (.gov)

Compare OR hospitals on survival rates (mortality/ death rates shown) or volumes for certain procedures that have recommended minimum levels. Data from 2007 for balloon angioplasty (PTCA), heart attack, heart bypass CABG, congestive heart failure, hip fracture, pneumonia, stroke, AAA Repair, carotid endarterectomy, esophageal resection and GI hemorrhage. If you want to see all health conditions at a single hospital (2005 to 2007), click on hospital trends. Pub. by oregon.gov (OHPR and HPC), 2009

Pennsylvania - Hospital Quality Ratings & Patient Opinions (PHCQA)

Compare PA hospitals side-by-side for heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia care, surgical infection prevention, and patient satisfaction. Similar info at the CMS HospitalCompare (dates may vary), but this may be easier to use; 2007-2008 data. Pennylvania Health Care Quality Alliance (PHCQA) includes the PA Hospital Association (HAP), the Blue Cross Plans, the PA Medical Society and others.

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

Pennsylvania: Hospital-acquired Infections, 2007 (PHC4)

Study of 165 Pennsylvania hospitals shows hospital-acquired infections are dangerous (may contribute to lower survival rates: 12.2% mortality for those with such infections, vs. 2.0% for those without) and costly. Nearly 28,000 hospital acquired infections were reported in 2007, on nearly 1.6 million patients. Almost half of infections were Urinary Tract Infections. Hospitals are shown with peer group hospitals based on size, service complexity and volume of surgery. Average charges shown, but PA hospitals were only paid 27% of charges in 2007. Readers advised to read the full introduction before viewing individual hospital results. Report by Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, an independent state agency, January 2009

Rhode Island PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

Find average 2006 price and typical charges for 64 types of inpatient hospitalizations in RI. Examples: childbirth delivery prices, heart surgery, cardiac cath, stents, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, pneumonia, psychiatric hospitalization, rehab. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time. Sponsored by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island (HARI), using old 2006 charges. Consumers will need to inflate the old charges for estimating currrent prices

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

Tennessee Hospital Quality Comparison Ratings

The Tennessee Hospital Association and BlueCross BlueShield of TN have teamed up to compare hospital quality on mortality (survival rates), readmissions, volume and length of stay data. Interactive site for maternity, C-Section delivery, gall bladder surgery (laparoscopic & open cholecystectomy), cardiac valves, CABG, defibrillators, heart failure, stomach and GI problems, pneumonia, stroke, COPD, pacemakers, PCI, bowel surgery, brain surgery, back surgery, psychiatric hospitalization, hip and knee joint replacement (listed under Single & Bilateral Jt) and vascular procedures. Uses 2005-2006 data

Texas - Inpatient Care Ratings in Texas Hospitals, 2007

More than 20 separate quality ratings include patients of any payer type. Compare hospital volumes, mortality (survival rates), and certain utilization rates (i.e. cesarean section, VBAC rate, cardiac cath, appendectomy in elderly). Survival rates for heart attack (AMI), heart failure CHF, stroke, GI hemorrhage, hip fracture, and pneumonia. Volume and/or death rates provided for heart bypass surgery (CABG), angioplasty (PTCA), AAA Repair, hip replacement, craniotomy, esophageal resection, pancreatic resection, and carotid endarterectomy. TX Dept. of State Health Services THCIC. If your hospital has a * by it, its mortality rate is significantly lower (good), but if it has two ** by it, its risk-adjusted mortality was found to be significantly higher; must look VERY closely to find the asterisks. Option to create your own report by searching the database by geographic area didn't work for us. Released February 2010

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.

Top Performers - Why Not the Best Hospitals (Commonwealth)

The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system, launched a side-by-side comparison tool of 4500 US hospitals called Why Not the Best? Using 2007-2008 data from the CMS Hospital Compare website, this tool helps people compare overall and composite performance on heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, and patient satisfaction, and identifies the top 1% of hospitals. Easy to use, but explicitly NOT meant for consumers choosing hospitals. Instead, it's intended to be a research tool to improve hospital performance.

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Respiratory disorders

Top 50 hospitals for respiratory problems, including Lung transplant, used Medicare data (including mortality index), reputation and other factors. National Jewish Health Center (Denver) and Mayo Clinic lead the list. For reference: small hospitals routinely treat pneumonia and COPD patients, and a tertiary medical center may not be necessary for effective treatment. This list by US News & World Report gives strong weight to reputation (according to sample of board-certified pulmonologists) and large volume

Utah CheckPoint - Heart and Pneumonia Care Quality Ratings, 2009

Compare Utah hospital inpatient quality and ratings for heart attack, congestive heart failure and pneumonia care, 2008-2009 data. These measures are not as extensive, but are similar to what is available through CMS' HospitalCompare website, and the Joint Commission (JCAHO). May be easier to use this site, due to the side-by-side hospital comparisons. Some measures are Medicare-only, and some use all patients (all payer data). Utah Hospital Association

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

Utah Pneumonia Hospitalizations, Quality and Charges by Hospital  

Compare survival rates (deaths) for pneumonia (all adults, not only Medicare) and average 2008 pneumonia charges (a proxy for prices or average cost) by hospital name. Fifteen UT hospitals (including VA Medical) had superior performance. Charges are grouped by severity level of illness. The Web Page format is extremely user-friendly. Quality ratings use 3 years of data 2006-2008. Updated Dec. 2009

Vermont - 2009 Hospital Report Cards (Act 53)  

Vermont calls these ratings Act 53 report cards, in honor of legislation passed in 2003, requiring VT hospitals to publish annual community reports about hospital quality, safety, financial health, costs for services and more. This government site links to all of the data, including outpatient prices. Health conditions include heart care, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, central line associated bloodstream infection rates, hysterectomy infections, knee replacement and hip replacement infection rates, volume and death rates for resection of esophagus or of pancreas (usually for cancer), pediatric heart surgery, abdominal aneurysm repair (AAA), & more. This site earns Editor's Pick for putting Composite Quality Ratings, Survival Rate information, links to patient satisfaction and current medical prices all on the same same web page for easy access. Well done. Nurse staffing also available.

Vermont - Inpatient Hospital Average Prices, 2008 (pdf)  

Report shows average prices (charges) for each VT hospital's most frequent inpatient admissions - includes newborn delivery, cesarean section, pneumonia, total hip or knee replacement, depression, psychoses such as schizophrenia, COPD & emphysema, heart failure, chest pain, rehabilitation, stomach problems, appendectomy, hysterectomy, bowel, TURP and other surgery; stent, heart cath, heart rhythm problems, back problems, kidney or urinary tract infection, and other hospital stays. All common hospital admissions were more than $5000. Compare costs on 55 different types of cases, listed by MS-DRG. Links to hospital discount policies for consumers with cost concerns; 2007-2008 average charges

Washington (state) Hospital Inpatient Prices

Find out the typical charges (2007-2008 prices) to estimate the average cost of hospital surgery or medical problems. About 60 types, including maternity care, psychiatric hospitalization and digestive problems, are covered. Shows one hospital at a time similar to other state pricepoint systems. Presented by the WA State Hospital Association (WSHA)

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 CheckPoint - Hospital Ratings and Patient Opinions  

Compare hospital quality performance and patient satisfaction ratings for 125 hospitals in WI. Topics: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention and survvival for hip, knee surgery, heart, vascular, other cardiac, colon surgery and hysterectomy; patient safety practices, incidental appendectomy rate; deaths data. See how many patients would definitely recommend the hospital. Most data in January 2010 update are from 2008-2009. Wisconsin Hospital Association makes quarterly updates. Even though the clinical topic list is sketchy (such as Bones and Digestive), WHA receives Editor's Pick for going beyond CMS measures, for showing all hospitals side-by-side, consumer ease in getting a free comprehensive quality report for one hospital, staying current, and showing comparisons to the benchmark best in the state

Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality - Hospital Inpatient Ratings & Prices

Compare hospital performance ratings for Surgery (including heart valves, gastric bypass [weight loss], angioplasty [PCI]), Heart Care, Maternity Care, Pneumonia, computerized physician orders to prevent medication errors, ICU staffing and more. Over 20 hospitals participate. Shows charges (average 2007 price) for some heart care, knee replacement, childbirth delivery, and pneumonia care; includes Leapfrog, CMS/Joint Commission measures. Some 2008 data. WCHQ report

Wisconsin Hospital Survival Ratings for Medical Illnesses  

Compare 108 WI hospitals (side-by-side) on their survival rates for stroke, heart attack, pneumonia, heart failure, hip fracture and GI Bleeding. Wisconsin Hospital Association report Deaths Due to Illness shows most hospitals performed As Expected, with a few significantly Worse, or Better than the others. Most results are from 2008 (deaths from 2007; error prevention show 2009 data), published 2009

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