Hospital Compare

The United States Department and Health and Human Services (DHHS) maintains a website where consumers can review the quality scores of their local providers, referred to as “Hospital Compare.” Results include compliance with “core measures”, overall mortality rates compared to national rates, and patient satisfaction with items like medication teaching, noise, and pain control. Potential consumers can even examine the “typical” amount paid out on behalf of patients with similar disorders.

This information is collected from random chart audits and data analysis performed by federal agencies. Hospital quality and risk committees composed of nurses, physicians, administrators, and often consumers, continually review compliance scores and develop strategies to ensure consistent performance.

Go to the publicly reported website: Medicare.gov – Find a hospital

Place your zip code in the Location search box, then click “Search.” Select at least 2 hospitals by clicking the “Compare” button next to the name of the hospital. Once you have selected your two (or more) hospitals, click on the “Compare” button on the upper right corner of the screen.

You will see multiple tabs including “Patient Survey Rating”, “Timely and Effective Care”, ”Complications & Deaths”, “Payment & Value of Care”, etc.

Please answer the following questions, based on comparison of your agencies.

1. For the two agencies review the “Patient Survey Rating.” Compare the two agencies to each other, but also to the Florida and national average score for each item. Identify the item with the lowest scores for your agency. From the Nurse Manager’s perspective identify one possible approach to improve this score and discuss any departments, across the agency, which might have to collaborate to improve the patient’s response. (Remember: giving a survey to identify negative responses prior to discharge is a punishable offense to prevent hospitals from tampering with honest responses from patients!)
2. Select “Timely and Effective Care” then compare the categories between your 2 chosen hospitals (the list includes Sepsis care, Heart attack care, Emergency department care, etc.) Select one diagnostic category. Once again cross compare the agencies with each other, as well as the state and national averages. Identify the lowest core measure score among the providers you chose and indicate whether improving compliance with this core measure is a current focus where you are employed. (If compliance was consistent across the board on all measures select one element and discuss whether it is a priority being addressed on your unit or your agency.)
3. Finally, identify whether you are on any of your employer’s committees charged with improving publicly reported data, and if so identify which one. If you are not directly involved, what committee would you like to lead, in order to address the data you reviewed?