rights, responsibilities, and ethics; continuity of care; education and communication; health promotion and disease prevention; leadership; management of personnel and health information; and continuous quality improvement.
Another accrediting organization is the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC), which develops accreditation standards and programs for managed care and other health plans. For a directory of accredited organizations, visit URAC’s website.
How do I choose a high-quality hospital?
There are several sites on the Internet where you can research hospitals for free. A new website at http://www.healthgrades.com is a good place for consumers to research a local hospital. You can also search under specific types of care to compare best hospitals in your area. The AHRQ site has links to online tools that compare both hospitals and nursing homes.
The organization that oversees hospitals is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Make sure JCAHO accredits the hospital you choose by calling 1-630-792-5800 or visiting their website. Information on accredited organizations is free of charge.
The JCAHO offers a handy service called “quality check” that quickly and efficiently allows you to call up the latest report on any hospital or medical clinic. The consumer search function also allows you to