Consumers

Better information for you through public reporting

Today, you, as a consumer, are facing decisions about your healthcare that are more complex than ever. As this complexity increases, it becomes important for you to learn more about healthcare quality performance of healthcare providers than what you read in advertisements. You need objective, unbiased, and comparative information.

On this Web site we bring you a collection of healthcare quality performance measures that enable you to compare physician groups, hospitals and health plans by a variety of topics (for example, critical care, heart care, etc.), and also within geographical regions. In some instances (the new diabetes measures, for example), the outpatient information you will find is the first of its kind in the nation to be reported publicly.

Be sure to discuss our Performance & Progress Report with your healthcare provider, as the information is not intended to provide medical advice or suggestions for treatment. Rather, it is here to help you become a more informed consumer and guide the important discussions you will want to have with your doctor - especially when you are faced with important healthcare decisions.

Please visit our Web site often to review updates and new measures we will be adding to our Performance & Progress Report on a regular basis.

Better public reporting through feedback

Extensive research conducted throughout 2004 by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) and its collaborators in the Hospital Quality Alliance provides valuable feedback from stakeholders, including consumers, on what should be included in an expanded set of measures for hospital public reporting.

WCHQ considered this body of work in building this 2005 Performance and Progress Report. However, we must note that our report includes measures of quality in outpatient physician group and clinic settings, as well as hospitals, and this was not the focus of the CMS study. In fact, you should know that WCHQ is leading the nation in the development of new measures by which to compare the quality of care provided by physician groups and clinics.

Therefore, we are now taking "feedback" directly from you. We have provided two ways for you to respond to the information you find here in our report:

1. Click the "Feedback" link at the top of any page. Fill out the form and click "Send Feedback". This is a good way to send general comments about the site to WCHQ staff.
2. Feedback survey: You can choose to take part in an online Feedback Survey by following the "Feedback Survey" link any comparative chart or historical data page. We value your feedback, as it will enable us to improve the quality of our site and public report on an ongoing basis.

Additionally, you can send your thoughts to info@wchq.org. Please refer to our Privacy Policy (see link at the bottom of the screen) regarding how we use - the information you choose to submit. Do not send personal healthcare information through this web site.