1. The CMS Hospital Compare website (www.hospital compare.hhs.gov) allows you to com–
pare performance at hospitals throughout the United States. Go to this site and search
for hospitals within 100 miles of your location. Which hospitals rate highest in each of the
following measurement categories?
• Process of care measures
• Outcome of care measures
• Patients’ hospital experiences
2. Explore the CMS Hospital Compare website and review the data for each measurement category. Which performance measures in these categories are most important to con–
sumers of healthcare services? Which performance measures are least important to consumers? Are consumers using the data on the CMS Hospital Compare website to select a
hospital? What other factors might influence consumer choice?
3. The Joint Commission Quality Check website (www.quality check.org) provides performance ratings for accredited organizations. Go to this site and look up the hospitals
ranked high in performance on the CMS Hospital Compare website. Are the ratings on The Joint Commission’s site similar to those reported on the CMS site? Are there differences? Which website provides the most detailed information about performance at the
hospitals? Which website is easiest for consumers to use for performance assessment purposes?
