HEALTHCARE
Discovery starts hospital rating index
Posted Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Medical scheme Discovery Health has launched a five-star ratings system for private hospitals, to enable patients to choose which facility will best treat their particular ailment.
The index will enable patients and doctors to compare the cost and quality of treatment at private hospitals, reports Business Day.
Cancer, kidney and HIV/Aids treatments have been excluded from the index, which will be available on Discovery's website.
Using the index, a pregnant woman will for example be able to compare the rankings of nearby private hospitals in choosing where to have her baby.
Based on US models, the index was compiled using data from 744 000 hospital admissions in 2003 and 2004, measuring cost, mortality, complications and readmissions within a month, according to the business daily.
Discovery Health MD Barry Swartzberg said the index will also enable Discovery
negotiate lower tariffs with hospitals.
Council for Medical Schemes spokesperson
Pat Sidley told Business Report the council welcomed opportunities for consumers to make better-informed choices, adding she hoped other medical schemes would follow suit.
However, private hospital groups voiced concern that there was not enough data for the index to be accurate, saying that although the idea was good, the system was premature and flawed, Business Day reported.
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