Not every hospital is created equal, which is why it pays to shop around. If you’re lucky enough to know in advance you’re going to need the services of a hospital, it might be worthwhile to compare hospitals in your community.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a Web site for just that purpose called Hospital Compare. The site is a cooperative effort among HHS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other members of the Hospital Quality Alliance. The information on the Web site has been provided primarily by hospitals that have agreed to submit quality information.
 
At Hospital Compare you can find out how well hospitals in your area provide recommended care for patients being treated for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, or pneumonia. The site also provides quality information on certain surgical procedures.

In addition, Hospital Compare includes quality measurements, pricing for specific procedures and patient satisfaction survey information. Patient survey data includes

• the percentage of patients reporting that they always received help as requested,
• cleanliness of the hospital,
• whether the facility was quiet at night, and
• how carefully doctors listened to patients’ needs.
  

Hospital Compare also provides a checklist of questions to ask your health insurance company, physician and hospital. Equipped with all this information, you should be well prepared to discuss your options with your physician and your family.

Have you ever shopped around for hospitals? Was it helpful? Tell us about it.