Good questions when:

Choosing a Hospital

• Are you a “general” hospital or a “specialty” hospital?

• Some hospitals specialize in a particular disease or condition others specialize in a type of patient such as children or the elderly.

• How many cases like mine do you handle in a year and what is the success rate?

• Studies indicate that the more of a particular procedure a hospital performs the better they become. Practice makes perfect!\012

• Does my doctor have privileges at this hospital?
• What is the nurse to patient ratio?

• An acceptable range is one nurse per every three to six patients in areas other than the ICU where the range is one nurse per every one or two patients.

• Are you accredited by the Joint Commission?

• Membership in The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations serves as a nationwide seal of approval indicating a hospital meets high performance standards.

• Do you accept Medicare or my private insurance?

• Even if you are not a Medicare patient the answer to this question provides insight. If the answer is no it may be because the hospital is on probation or has been suspended. If so, it is a good idea to find out why.

• What out of pocket expenses should I expect?