NH Hospital Report Cards Are Out-Check Your Hospital’s Grade Before You’re Admitted
The Joint Commission has released its report card on the nation’s hospitals in what industry officials view as an important step in improving the quality of healthcare in the United States. The report card issued by the Joint Commission focuses on the healthcare quality measurements that hospitals consider the gold standard of care. The hospital report cards should serve consumers with the level of transparency and knowledge concerning their hospitals’ standards of care.
The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization that accredits most U.S. hospitals, publishes a consumer-friendly report called Quality Check. It grades hospitals on how well they follow care practices that are considered industry standards, ranging from infection control standards to educating patients.
The health grades also serve as an important educational tool for hospitals seeking to improve their level of care or resolve deficiencies in care. For instance, a hospital may receive a failing grade in one area of care such as heart failure. The report gives hospital officials the tools with which the problem can be discovered, a solution offered, and an action plan implemented that reduces the deficiency.