Health care quality means that patients, doctors, and health care facilities aim to achieve the best possible results by:
The Institute of Medicine defines high quality health care as:
Don't people get good care from every medical facility? Here are the facts:
You want to get the very best quality possible when you or a loved one needs care. This means making good decisions about your health care. Health care quality information can help you understand the care that is right for you and where you can go to get it.
If you or someone you care about needs health care, you can use quality information to choose a hospital, nursing home or doctor. Quality information can help you:
Most doctors, nursing homes and hospitals are happy to talk with patients about quality information from reliable sources such as this website, and they care about your preferences. You certainly have the right to raise issues with them and get answers to your questions. Remember, it's your life and your health.
If you are interested in learning more about quality care or how to choose a hospital, here are some resources that can help.
Physician Compare can help you find a doctor nearby. You can search by specialty, board certification, group practice, and which hospitals the doctor works with, among other topics.
Nursing Home Compare collects information about every nursing home in the country that provides care to people who receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits. The website a detailed guide for choosing a nursing home or other long-term care.
To contact AHRQ by mail write to:
To reach AHRQ by phone, call (301) 427-1364
This organization is the primary group that reviews and accredits hospitals in the United States. The Joint Commission’s’s Quality Check website tells you which hospitals meet this organization's patient safety and quality standards.
To reach Joint Commission with a general question, call 630-792-5000.
To order Joint Commission publications, call 877-223-6866.
The Leapfrog Group measures hospital performance against national standards for safety, quality and efficiency that are relevant to consumers and purchasers of health care. Hospital participation is voluntary; more than 1400 hospitals participated in The Leapfrog Hospital Survey in 2013, and more than 2500 have received a Hospital Safety Score.
Consumer Reports releases hospital ratings based on patient safety, patient experience, patient outcomes and other characteristics.