Sources and methodology
This guide translates public hospital and nursing home quality and patient safety information into a comparison process for patients, families, and caregivers. The sources below materially informed its content.
How this guide uses information
The guide summarizes and organizes information from public agencies, accrediting organizations, nonprofit reporting programs, specialty societies, and consumer rating services. It does not calculate hospital ratings, independently audit or validate hospital performance, reproduce proprietary methodologies, or recommend or endorse a hospital.
Measures, methods, reporting periods, participation, and website features can change. Visitors should confirm definitions and the latest available results on each original source, record the date or rating edition reviewed, and ask the hospital about missing or conflicting information.
Last source review: September 23, 2026.
Public reporting and accreditation
Hospital ratings, outcomes, complications, infections, readmissions, patient experience, and other measures.
Downloadable hospital quality datasets and measure information.
Resources and methodology for the CMS overall hospital rating.
Letter grades and measure details focused on preventable harm.
Detailed quality and safety results, including survey measures.
Accreditation, certification, and verification information.
Information about infection measures and national and state progress.
Inspection, complaint, enforcement, adverse-event, maternal health, and infection reporting varies by state. Use the official agency for the state where the hospital is located.
Patient safety and engagement guidance
Resources for participating in care and improving safety during a hospital stay.
Plain-language prompts that encourage patients and families to ask questions and participate in care.
Standardized patient experience survey information and guidance.
Preprocedure verification, site marking, time-outs, identification, and related safety expectations.
Hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and infection-exposure practices.
Specialty care resources
Voluntary public reporting of cardiac, thoracic, and congenital surgical outcomes.
Transplant program activity and outcomes.
Accreditation and quality programs for cancer care.
Patient information used to shape heart-care questions.
Patient and caregiver considerations for stroke services and rehabilitation.
Questions about experience, outcomes, risks, and recovery.
Questions about treatment choices, side effects, coordination, and clinical trials.
Framework for risk-appropriate maternal services and hospital capabilities.
Additional hospital comparison services
A hospital comparison view using publicly reported data and specialty results where available.
Annual national, regional, specialty, procedure, and condition ratings.
Methods for hospital outcome ratings and recognition programs.
Hospital and physician recognition information. Review the criteria for the specific designation being considered.