Finding The Right Hospital Care

KIMA

Story Published: Jun 25, 2008 at 6:40 PM PST

By Valerie Hurst

When you've got heart failure, cancer, or another long-term, life-threatening illness, what's the key to getting the best care?

Consumer Reports' Nancy Metcalf has reviewed the research, including a Dartmouth study of almost five million Medicare patients in the last two years of life. It turns out that across America the most aggressive care is not necessarily delivering better results.

"Patients who have the most tests, the most procedures, see the most doctors, spend the most time in the hospital, don't do any better in the long run, and they don't even live any longer than people who get more conservative treatment," Metcalf says.

Of the almost three thousand hospitals rated in the Dartmouth study, one with some of the most conservative care is Scott and White in Temple, Texas.

In the last two years of life, patients spend much less time in the hospital and spend far less on doctor payments. Yet the care is considered very good, according to Medicare's ratings on a variety of quality measures.

(Nancy Metcalf) "Aggressive care can actually lead to poorer results. The more tests and procedures you have, the greater your risk of infections and other complications. And the more medical specialists you see, the greater your risk of medical errors because of poorly coordinated care."

Whatever hospital you go to, Consumer Reports says for the best medical care, rely on a single doctor to coordinate your treatment. If several doctors are involved, call for a meeting to discuss your case. And always ask about the risks as well as the benefits of any test or treatment. It pays to know what type of care to expect at the hospital you’re going to. Consumer Reports has information on almost three thousand hospitals across the country. You can find it at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

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