A public report card shows how well clinics are performing
11/10/2005
David Phelps,
Star Tribune
Last update: November 9, 2005 at 8:11 PM
Minnesotans have a new tool beginning today to help them check out the quality of care provided by hospitals and clinics in a number of key disease categories.
The Web-based report, called MN Community Measurement, uses a three-star rating system—three stars being the highest—to rate providers on how well they follow treatment guidelines.
Patients can log on to http://www.mnhealthcare.org to search among clinic groups to find which ones ranked highest or to check out how their own clinics performed.
The ratings are based on adherence to recommendations from Minnesota’s Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) for treating diabetes, asthma and depression. Other categories are childhood and adolescent immunization, care for infants, high blood pressure and screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and chlamydia.
Hospital and clinic ratings are controversial but are gaining acceptance as the data are refined. ICSI’s standards are recognized by 75 percent of the state’s physicians. Moreover, the Minnesota Medical Association is one of the sponsors of MN Community Measurement.
“Yes, there is resistance from the providers’ side,” said Dr. Steve Jenks, senior quality adviser for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington.
“But remember when airlines started publishing their on-time rates? Everyone had an excuse. Well, OK folks, get used to it. This is information, not conclusions.”
This is the second year there’s been an MN Community Measurement report. The new one, though, is much more detailed and includes the star rating system for the first time.
“Our purpose is to improve health care by using information that is publicly reported but hasn’t been shared before,” said Jim Chase, executive director of MN Community Measurement.
Minnesota leads many states in providing comparative information on health care. The question is whether consumers will use it or will continue to rely on friends and relatives for medical referrals.