How to Find the Best Hospital

Hopefully, you'll stay healthy for ever. But if you should need a hospital, it's important to feel confident that you've selected the best one available for your particular health condition. Here's how to check.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Visit healthgrades.com on the internet (see resource links, below, for direct access).
2. Select the "Free Hospital Ratings" button, and then select your State. Then click Submit.
3. On the next page, choose the condition you are interested in knowing more about. The page lists everything from appendectomies to valve replacements, with most common procedures and illnesses included.
4. You'll be taken to a page that shows the hospital rankings in your area, for the condition selected. The rankings are based on outcomes for the condition selected, such as mortality for heart attack patients.
5. Note that there are other options to choose from at the site, such as listings of the nation's Top Hospitals. It pays to explore around a bit.
6. Another site to know about is www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov (see resource links directly below for direct access). This site, run by Medicare/Medicaid services, is more difficult to use, but ultimately has more detailed information on many hospitals. It's worth spending some time with.