Where can I find comparative performance data for US Hospitals?

July 5, 2005 10:06 PM

Where can I find rankings or ratings of US hospitals?

I want to know how good or bad "Ocean Medical Center" in Brick, NJ is, particulary as it compares to nearby hospitals (I realize it probably varies by specialty or procedure; ideally I'd like the data broken down appropriately). Googling for the hospital name with any kind of descriptive returns junk and press releases from the company that owns the hospital.

posted by jeb to health (8 comments total)

Solucient, a hospital consulting company with a dreadfully unfortunate dot-com name, has a list of their top 100 hospitals in various categories. Whether it's worth taking any stock in their lists, I don't know. I only know about them because a local hospital trumpets being on them. Unfortunately, given the small number they list, it's hard to use it as a gauge against other local hospitals.
posted by zsazsa at 11:00 PM on July 5, 2005

Here is a result.
posted by tellurian at 11:03 PM on July 5, 2005

U.S. News has ranked lists for multiple specialties, but I don't see Ocean Medical anywhere within its alphabetical index. It might still be worth a look.
posted by brad! at 11:08 PM on July 5, 2005

I'm not sure if they have rankings, but here's a link for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. On their front page, they have a link called Quality Check® Check up on your local health care organizations
posted by Doohickie at 5:54 AM on July 6, 2005

Checkbook magazine has done this nationwide. It'll cost you $20.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:09 AM on July 6, 2005

The federal government collects and posts data on the quality of care delivered at 4,200 hospitals nationwide.

OCEAN MEDICAL CENTER is listed. Follow theappropriate "click boxes" for relevant data.
posted by ericb at 8:33 AM on July 6, 2005

Federal Government "Hospital Compare" proper link.

Also, check out Guide to New Jersey Hospitals - Hospital Comparisons.
posted by ericb at 9:13 AM on July 6, 2005

JCAHO is a good resource. Pronounced "JAY-KO". Hospital Compare is a resource that many people in the healthcare industry use to compare against each other, but is limited and focuses on Medicare (and Medicaid to a lesser extent).

Solucient kinda blows, as these things are measured. You're better off with US News and World Report's rankings, to be honest.
posted by taumeson at 10:05 AM on July 6, 2005