


Unfortunately, it looks like more of the same.


But where are we asking about the basics?



Tell me what makes a “good” hospital?

5 Replies to “Looking at the wrong stuff: America’s Best Hospitals: The 2009-10 Honor Roll”

  1. These hospital rankings seem pretty useless. I heard some medical leaders complaining about it this week and they had a good point.

    When “reputation” is a basis for ranking, that’s a self perpetuating cycle.

    Reputation –> Ranking

    Ranking –> Reputation

    Hospitals with undeserved reputations, those with great names, but high cost and poor quality, won’t be forced to improve.

    Imagine if Consumer Reports ranked cars based on reputation. Would Toyota be on the top of that list forever, regardless of performance?

  2. Also, it’s a bit unfair to say “nobody” is looking at it. Just not enough…

    There are some hospital leaders who DO get it. The media is very very slow to catch up.

    1. I acknowledge that I sometimes take license to use absolute terms to drive home a point and agree that the mainstream media, in general, seems pretty slow to to engage meaningful critical thought.

  3. I read some the links in the article but I did not see references to primary sources of “hospital problems.” Is it common knowledge that there are significant issues with infections, wrong medications, falls, etc? If not, do you know where the primary sources are?

    1. Try a Google search on the terms [preventable deaths hospitals].
      In the USA we are looking at about twice the absolute numbers as deaths in automobile accidents. Then consider:
      There are a lot more people – hours spent in cars every day than there are in hospitals.

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