Consumer Reports
www.consumerreports.org/health/doctors-hospitals/hospital-ratings.htm
This nonprofit calculates a "safety score" on a 100-point scale based on infection, error, and readmission rates, as well as good communication from doctors and nurses. Data is subscription-only.
Healthgrades
www.healthgrades.com/quality/top-hospitals-2013
This private company rates hospitals in up to two dozen specialties and provides some of Medicare's Hospital Compare data in a user-friendly format. It also gives awards in various specialties.
The Joint Commission
www.qualitycheck.org/consumer/searchQCR.aspx
This accreditation nonprofit tells you whether a hospital has passed its certification reviews. Awards are given in areas such as stroke and heart care. A "top performers" list honors hospitals that follow proper procedures but doesn't assess their success.
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score
www.hospitalsafetyscore.org
This nonprofit group uses government data and its own surveys to produce a letter grade for how well hospitals protect patients from unnecessary harm.
Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals
www.100tophospitals.com
This private company selects best hospitals in five categories based on their size and whether they are teaching or community hospitals. It also picks 15 top hospital systems and best cardiovascular programs.
U.S. News and World Report
http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals
Alone among raters, the media company surveys specialists for their opinions in choosing top national and regional hospitals by specialty. For 12 specialties, the score is one-third reputation, two-thirds data. In four specialties, ratings are based only on reputation. It also ranks best pediatric hospitals. (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ties for first nationally.)
- Jordan Rau
