What is the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program designed to do?

The Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program is specifically designed to provide quality information to consumers. By collecting and reporting data on patients’ experiences and outcomes, the program helps patients make informed decisions about their healthcare providers and facilities. This transparency in quality metrics empowers consumers to choose hospitals based on their performance in terms of safety, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction.

Through this program, hospitals are incentivized to improve the quality of care they provide, as their reported data can influence consumer choices. It enhances accountability and encourages hospitals to consistently evaluate and improve their standards of care, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for patients. This focus on public access to quality information directly supports consumer choice in the healthcare market.