Hospital Ratings — Fast Becoming More Popular — Don’t Paint Whole Picture, Experts Say
Though they can be a good place for a patient to start -- and can help hospitals market themselves -- star ratings and other rankings don't take into account how complex such health systems are, experts warn.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Do Hospital Rankings Benefit Consumers?
On Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report released its 27th annual “Best Hospital” rankings, including an honor roll of 20 hospitals from around the country — such as the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and UCLA Medical Center. ... Less than a week ago, the federal government released its first-ever ratings system for overall hospital quality, which in many cases seemed at odds with the U.S. News rankings. For example, the government placed Paradise Valley Hospital in National City above the usually vaunted UC San Diego Medical Center. (Smith, 8/1)
In other hospital news —
KPCC:
Tips On Getting Along With Hospital Staff
What if they get the wrong paperwork, medication, surgery -- the list goes on. And the “what ifs” can lead friends and family members to overstep their bounds with hospital staff. Conversely, nurses may be more concerned with providing medical care than communicating with patients, a skill they may not have learned in nursing school. But according to a Wall Street Journal article, that may be changing. Programs and workshops are cropping up to help nurses communicate with patients and their loved ones, and hospital staff have some recommendations on how to get the best care. (Morrison and Sy, 8/1)