opinion
Hospital report cards only one element of the quality picture
LETTER — Posted May 14, 2012
Regarding “Hospital report cards fall flat at improving patient outcomes” (Article, March 19): The best measure of quality of health care can be based on simple facts. It should be timely, safe, effective, efficacious, affordable and patient-centered. It should result in better outcomes for the patient.
However, health care quality has multiple dimensions, and the patient also has a great role to play in this process. He has to follow rules of good health and take medications and other interventions as directed. Then there is a big question of what insurance you have and how good is your doctor. Money plays a big role in health care in this country than anywhere else, and that part nobody seems to look at.
Paramjit Singh, MD, Lancaster, Calif.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/05/14/edlt0514.htm.