Not All Hospitals Are Created Equal

Last week I wrote that when it comes to picking a family doctor you don't need the best. What you need is someone who is competent and caring and whom you like and feel comfortable communicating with. To treat a serious ailment, injury or disease the family practice doctor will refer you to a specialist anyway. However, when it comes to picking a hospital, it's a different story. Not all hospitals are the same. The importance of choosing a good hospital is highlighted here.

Choosing a good hospital can be tricky, but the bottom line is that it usually comes down to resources, money. Some hospitals have it, and use it to create fantastic centers for diagnosis, treatment and learning, and others do not. There are some hospitals here in Chicago that constantly seem to be spending money to improve patient services. Northwestern Memorial Hospital just opened its brand new Prentice Women's Hospital and Loyola University Hospital is expanding its Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine. With regard to hospitals like Roseland Community Hospital and St. Bernard I have to wonder how they manage to even keep the lights on. A hospital's wealth is certainly no guarantee that it will provide safe, error free care to all of its patients, but odds are that you'll be better off.

The other thing you'll need to consider in choosing a hospital is they type of care you need. Some hospitals are simply better at treating certain kinds of patients than are others. For example, if you are having a baby I doubt you could do better in Chicago than the aforementioned Prentice Women's Hospital. If you have heart issues, St. Francis in Blue Island (now Metro South) has a good reputation. Once again, no hospital is perfect. I am aware of serious errors committed at each of the hospitals I have mentioned here. But remember, you are playing the odds. Do your homework before you require a significant hospital stay and you will decrease your chances of becoming a victim.

Here is a link to what US News & World Report thinks are the best hospitals in the United States.