When choosing a hospital, it is useful to gather information from the sources listed below. No single source gives a perfect measure of quality, but when several are combined, it can help you make an informed decision.
Trusted Referrals
Referrals from trusted sources, such as your primary care physicians, family, friends or other breast cancer survivors, are often the best way to find a good hospital.
Personal Visit
Visiting a hospital before receiving care lets you get a feel for the institution. Is the staff nice and helpful? Is the building well kept? Are the waiting areas, restrooms and lobby clean? These factors can be important in your decision-making. Visiting a site beforehand can also help you learn how easy it is to get to from your home. And, it lets you see what lodging is available.
Accrediting Organizations
A number of organizations in the United States monitor the quality of health care facilities. The ratings provided by these organizations can be a good indication of the quality of care given by a facility.
Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The Joint Commission conducts site visits and audits of hospitals and surgery centers to check their quality of care. The Commission gives each facility a rating based on performance. To find a healthcare organization that meets safety and quality standards, visit the Commission's website or call (630) 792-5800.
National Center for Quality Assurance. The National Center for Quality Assurance evaluates health maintenance organizations (HMOs) against a set of quality standards. Like the Joint Commission, it gives each participating HMO a rating based on its performance. These ratings are available on the Association's website and through its toll-free number: (888) 275-7585.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA, through the Mammography Quality Standards Act, oversees the licensing of mammography facilities. A list of facilities meeting the FDA's quality standards is available online or by calling the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at (800) 4-CANCER. Each year, the FDA also produces a "Mammography Facility Adverse Event Report," which details any actions that the FDA had to take against specific mammography facilities.
Health Care Advocacy Organizations
Many health care advocacy organizations also gather information to help people make better-informed decisions about their care. One such organization, Health Care Choices, provides information on breast cancer care issues, including patient volume data and insurance coverage.
Rating Services
Publications that rate the "best" hospitals can also be a good resource. For example, US News & World Report publishes America's Best Hospitals, each year (view their most recent hospital honor roll). While these types of publications are often based on extensive research and are useful guides, they should not be the sole basis for choosing a hospital.
Updated 08/18/09
