Choosing a hospital is a big decision that can affect your health. When you go to the hospital, you want care that helps you get better faster with fewer problems during and after your treatment.

When you or someone you love needs hospital care, there's a lot to think about. There may be several hospitals in your area. Some have great reputations—some you don't know at all. Some seem to charge more-some charge less. How do you know which hospital is the best choice for the care you need?

It's a decision that really matters—because some hospitals do a better job than others.

A 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine found that up to 98,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical mistakes made in hospitals.
Forty-two percent of Americans say they've been involved in a medical mistake—either personally or through the experience of a friend or relative.

Hospitals aren't all the same—some have better results than others for the surgeries and procedures they do. And a hospital that's good at one thing may not be good at another. You have to look at each hospital, procedure by procedure.

  
Did you know?

Bigger isn't always better.
The biggest or best-known hospital in your area may not have the best results for the surgery or procedure you need.

Practice makes perfect.
You can usually improve your chances of having a successful surgery if you go to a hospital where the doctors do a lot of that kind of surgery every year—instead of a hospital where doctors do only a few.

Staffing counts in the ICU.
Hospitals that staff their intensive care units with specially trained intensive care doctors have better patient results.

Computers help.
Hospitals with computerized prescription order entry systems for doctors have fewer medication errors.
It's smart to compare!
Because of these facts about hospital quality and results, it's important to look closely at the hospitals in your area and make a smart choice when you need care.