Hospital Performance Rating System Adds New Measures in California
An online rating system that lets users compare the quality of care at California hospitals has been updated to include additional performance categories, the Ventura County Star reports.
The rating site, CalHospitalCompare.org, measures hospitals' performance on categories ranging from overall patient satisfaction to the results of heart bypass surgery.
On Jan. 31, the site was expanded to feature additional categories, including mortality rates for intensive care units, and hospitals' efforts in stopping bedsores and eliminating complications when respirators are used.
Maribeth Shannon of the California HealthCare Foundation said ICU mortality rate is "the most important measure" on the site, adding it is not provided on any other public rating system. Shannon is spokesperson for the site.
Hospitals voluntarily submit data to the rating system, and audits are used to ensure accuracy of the reported information.
CHCF hopes to increase the number of hospitals on the site from 216 to 250. However, about 35 hospitals statewide have declined to participate, with some citing the cost of generating the data as the reason for opting out, according to the Star (Kisken, Ventura County Star, 2/9).
CHCF publishes California Healthline.