Resources and Tools

It's easy to ask your friends and family for provider recommendations, but word of mouth won't tell you the whole story. Find a hospital with top marks for safety and quality, and that has the kind of top-notch facilities and tools you need for your care. If you need a doctor or surgeon, check out how many procedures they've performed and how their patients rate them on courtesy and respect. Most of all, find someone you trust.

Leapfrog Hospital and ASC Survey Results The gold standard program for public reporting of hospital and ASC safety, quality, and resource use.

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade A consumer-friendly letter grade rating of over 2,600 hospitals on their record of patient safety, created by The Leapfrog Group.

CMS Care Compare A federally-run program showcasing hospital performance on quality metrics, including patients' perspectives of care.

Why Not The Best A provider-focused reporting program created by The Commonwealth Fund, now managed by IPRO.

HealthGrades A consumer-focused tool allowing patients to find doctors, dentists, and hospitals. 

U.S. News and World Report A national ranking of U.S. hospitals by specific specialties and procedures. 

Surgeon Ratings by Consumers' Checkbook A public listing of surgeons with better–than–average outcomes on specific surgical procedures.

Propublica Surgeon Scorecard A public listing of surgeons, including volume and outcomes on specific surgical procedures.

Navigating the health care system isn't exactly easy, but being an engaged patient is important. You have a right to be informed about what procedures are necessary, and which might have unintended consequences or harms. As a key member of the health care team, you need to make your voice heard. And if you've experienced an error (or even a near-miss) in the hospital, you have a story to share. 

Preparing For Your Procedure Video Series:  Krista Hughes, BCPA, a board-certified patient advocate, reviews ways you can prepare for an upcoming procedure. 

Choosing Wisely A national campaign providing resources for consumers and physicians to talk about the overuse or misuse of medical tests and procedures.

ShareCare A social platform offering personalized resources, guidance and programs to help you track your health.

Propublica A public interest journalism platform that shares patients' stories of medical harm.

The Care Partner Project A nonprofit that creates patient-focused checklists so you can protect yourself during a hospital stay.

Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths A 15-step checklist to reduce your risk of getting a hospital-acquired infection.

Sepsis Alliance The leading sepsis organization in the U.S. working in all 50 states to save lives and reduce suffering from sepsis. 

MediFind A platform that uses artificial intelligence to help patients make more informed health decisions, including identifying the right doctors and right treatments.

More expensive care is not always better care. And for many people--especially those with high-deductible health plans--comparing costs can help keep their out-of-pocket costs manageable. Although health care pricing is not always available or clear, more transparency can help lower costs and make care more efficient.

Guroo A tool created by the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute to connect patients with information on cost and quality.

Healthcare Blue Book A "Fair Price" tool that allows patients to shop for affordable, high-quality care in their area.

Fair Health A nonprofit that uses billing data to help patients estimate and plan their medical and dental expenses.

Clear Health Costs A website for patients to compare prices on common procedures and doctors visits in New York City, Miami, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, and to check Medicare payment rates for thousands of procedures nationwide.

MediBid A health care bidding site designed to connect patients with surgeons and specialists.

Digital health is one of the fastest growing fields in the country, and there are lots of resources out there to help you support your physician in finding a diagnosis. Use Google or an app like iTriage to learn more about your symptoms, and check out digital logs where you can record symptoms day by day. Use the following platforms to learn about different diseases, and to decide if you or a family member needs medical attention.

Society to Improve Diagnosis (SDIM) A resource with patient stories and toolkits to help patients more effectively partner with providers to find a diagnosis. 

WebMD A full-service platform with condition information, toolkits and guides, and healthy living resources.

Isabel A symptom-checker for patients to narrow down a list of possible conditions.

Mayo Clinic A comprehensive patient care and health information resource about a number of conditions and symptoms.

Bleed Out, An HBO Film

After a routine operation leaves the mother of filmmaker and comedian Steve Burrows in a coma with permanent brain damage, what starts as a personal video diary becomes a citizen’s investigation into the state of American health care. 

To Err is Human

Directed by the son of late patient safety pioneer, Dr. John M. Eisenberg, To Err Is Human is an in-depth documentary about this silent epidemic and those working quietly behind the scenes to create a new age of patient safety.

Preparing For Your Procedure Video Series:  Krista Hughes, BCPA, a board-certified patient advocate, reviews ways you can prepare for an upcoming procedure. 

Patient Safety Educational Videos: These videos highlight steps patients can take to stay safe in the hospital, offer an overview of patient safety, and how to use the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.