Recognizing Quality Differences

Just as defining high-quality care is difficult, so is making sense of the information. If a physician or hospital does not perform as well on a certain measure of quality, it does not mean they are a “bad” doctor or hospital. Many factors could have contributed to the score. 

However, it is important for physicians and patients to understand the quality of health care in their community. It can also be helpful for them to learn about the variations in care provided by different physicians and hospitals so they can ask good questions before making health care decisions.