Finding the best value for health care is not just about finding the lowest cost provider. Value has everything to do with price and quality. Today it’s very difficult for consumers to find useful and meaningful information on doctors. To help you make informed health care choices, I’ve identified four online tools to help you do your homework ---before choosing a hospital or medical professional for your surgery, procedure or treatment.
Quality Check
This tool provides hospital performance reports with information by medical specialty. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) obtains information about accredited organizations not only through direct observations by its employees, but also through direct communications from those accredited organizations and from measurement companies hired by accredited organizations and accepted by The Joint Commission as sources for performance measure data.
Hospital Compare
This Government online tool on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website provides information on how well hospitals care for patients with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures, and the results from a survey of patients about the quality of care patients received during a recent hospital stay. This information can help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide.
American Nurses Credentialing Center
This online directory is provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANC). The directory identifies hospitals and health care organizations that are part of the Magnet Recognition Program, which identifies centers of nursing excellence. This designation is considered to be the gold standard and many hospitals don’t make the cut.
Board Certified
This helpful online tool on the ABMS website allows you to confirm if your physician is board certified in his specialty.
Doctor Information
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) online tool provides professional information on physicians and physician assistances licensed in the U.S., and includes information on disciplinary sanctions, education , medical specialty, license history and locations.