The article “You don't always get what you pay for” did an excellent job explaining the sometimes complex components that factor into hospital data reporting, while at the same time making it clear that the average patient isn't aware of—or doesn't take advantage of—this public information.
Transparency is a key element for quality care measures such as readmission rates. The American College of Cardiology gives hospitals the opportunity to voluntarily report their PCI readmissions data on Medicare's Hospital Compare website. More than 300 hospitals complied in the initial round of posting this past July. If more hospitals would make this data public and available to patients, it would be a big step forward in truly transparent healthcare and in empowering patients to work with their physicians and hospitals on improving their healthcare outcomes.
In the Internet age, patients are becoming more informed. Hospitals are increasingly providing quality data publicly while preparing physicians to put this information into context after patients perform online research.
Dr. Gregory DehmerChair, Public Reporting Advisory GroupAmerican College of Cardiology, Washington
