Data
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Healthcare Quality Report 2007, December 2007.
This annual study provides baseline data on the quality of health care as measured across four dimensions: effectiveness, patient safety, timeliness, and patient centeredness National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2007. A companion to the National Healthcare Quality Report, this report compares healthcare among general and priority populations according to the four quality of care dimensions.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AHRQ Quality Indicators (QIs).
This site provides measures of health care quality that make use of readily available hospital inpatient administrative data. Software and a user guide are available to help users apply the Quality Indicators to their own data. The QIs are based on a technical review developed by the UCSF-Stanford Evidence-based Practice Center.
Dartmouth Medical School, Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences, The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.
The Dartmouth Atlas project is a documents differences in how Americans use health care resources, and the influence of the local supply of resources on the rates of use of those resources.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Saving Accounts: 2006 Progress Report, 2006.
This annual book includes stories and profiles of individual hospitals, patients, and healthcare providers who have utilized healthcare improvement and quality initiatives.
Leatherman, S., and D. McCarthy, The Commonwealth Fund, Quality of Healthcare in the United States: A Chartbook, April 2002.
Using multiple quality indicators, this original chartbook provides data on the status of health care quality in the United States.
Leatherman, S., and D. McCarthy, The Commonwealth Fund, Quality of Healthcare for Children and Adolescents: A Chartbook, April 2004.
The second in this series from the Commonwealth Fund, this chart book takes a closer look at the care provided to children and adolescents. The report includes more than 40 charts and analyses to represent the current state of pediatric health care.
Leatherman, S., and D. McCarthy, The Commonwealth Fund, Quality of Health Care for Medicare Beneficiaries: A Chartbook, May 2005.
The third in this series from the Commonwealth Fund, this chart book examines the quality of healthcare for elderly Medicare beneficiaries, depicting progress areas and gap areas.
Leapfrog Group, Hospital Quality and Safety Survey Results.
This website allows consumers to search for hospitals by state or zip code and find voluntarily reported ratings of hospital quality and safety.
National Committee for Quality Assurance, The State of the Health Care Quality 2007, 2007.
This report estimates the annual deaths, sick days, and hospital costs caused by healthcare quality gaps in America.
National Committee for Quality Assurance, The Essential Guide to Health Care Quality, 2007.
This guide provides readers with a clear understanding of the issues, initiatives and organizations that are working to improve health care quality.
Schuster, M., E. McGlynn, and R. Brook. 1998. How Good is the Quality of Health Care in the United States? Milbank Quarterly 76(4).
In this broad literature review on the quality of care in the U.S., authors critically evaluate the consistency and level of healthcare quality in the US.
Public Opinion
Audet, A.J., M.M. Doty, J. Shamasdin, et al., The Commonwealth Fund, Physicians’ Views on Quality of Care: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund National Survey of Physicians and Quality of Care, May 2005.
This report provides the results of the 2003 Commonwealth Fund survey of American physicians, focusing on physicians’ views and practices regarding quality of care. It reports physician responses about coordination of care, physician involvement in Quality Improvement initiatives, incentives, and use of information technology.
Kaiser Family Foundation, National Survey on Consumers' Experiences With Patient Safety and Quality Information — Summary and Chartpack, November 2004.
This chartpack summarizes key findings from a national survey assesses Americans' perceptions about the quality of healthcare, their awareness and reported usage of information in making their health care choices, and their experiences with their health care providers.
Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Health Poll Report — Public Opinion on Medical Errors, January 2006.
This public opinion report finds that while the public reports being concerned about medical errors, the prevention of medical errors does not rank highest in responses about the top problems facing health care and medicine.
Shea, K., A. Shigh, A. Shih, and K. Davis. Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on the Transparency of Health Care Quality and Price Information in the United States. November 2007.
The 12th Commonwealth Fund Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey asked a diverse group of experts for their perspective on ways to improve the quality and safety of health care in the U.S.
Sofaer, S., C. Crofton, E. Goldstein, et al. December 2005. What Do Consumers Want to Know about the Quality of Care in Hospitals? Health Services Research 40(6p2):2018.
Based on sixteen focus groups with former patients or family members of patients, this study ascertains people’s opinions and knowledge of hospital quality indicators.
Acknowledgements: This reference library was prepared Jane An, Usha Ranji, and Alina Salganicoff of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Updated: January 2008.