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HOSPITAL LOCATOR
Choosing a health care provider in the U.S.A.
International patients seeking medical treatment
in the United States of America may use the following resources to find
American Hospitals & Physicians.
Helping You Choose a Quality Hospital
Selecting quality health care services for yourself,
a relative, or friend requires special thought and attention. The Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has prepared
this guide to assist you in making your selection. Knowing what to look
for and what to ask will help you choose a facility that provides quality
care that best meets your needs.
You may not always have the opportunity to choose the hospital from which
you receive care, especially in an emergency. However, when you or a loved
one has a planned admission to the hospital, obtaining some important
information first can help make your hospital experience a positive one.
Begin by asking your physician for assistance in seeking out health treatment
in the U.S. Then ask the following questions to help you determine which
hospital meets your needs.
Questions to ask before choosing a hospital
- Do the services and specialties provided by the hospital meet your
specific medical needs? Do you have a medical condition requiring specialized
attention? Your medical history and present medical condition may affect
the type of hospital you choose.
- What is the hospital's success record in carrying out the specific
medical procedure you need? What is the specific training of the physician
who will perform the procedure? Ask how often the particular procedure
is done.
- Where is the hospital located? Will you have friends or family in
the area? Would you prefer to visit a larger city or small town? Research
hotels, climate, local attractions, and transportation in the area you
plan to visit prior to your trip.
- Does the hospital have a written description of its services and fees?
What resources does your government provide to help you find financial
assistance if you need it?
- Is the hospital accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting
body, such as the Joint Commission? Joint Commission accreditation means
the organization voluntarily sought accreditation and met national health
and safety standards. The Joint Commission provides on-site surveys
to review the hospital's medical and nursing care, physical condition,
life safety program, special care units, pharmaceutical services, infection
control procedures and a number of other areas affecting patient care.
- Does the hospital explain the patient's rights and responsibilities?
Ask to see a copy of the hospital's patient rights and responsibilities
information.
- Who is responsible for maintaining your personal care plan in your
home country? How are the involved practitioners kept informed about
your specific care needs? Can you or your family be kept up-to-date
on your medical care?
- Does the hospital have social workers? Ask what services the social
workers provide. Social workers usually help patients and their families
find emotional, social, clinical, physical, and financial support services.
- Will a discharge plan be developed for you before you leave the hospital?
Ask what services are available and what your primary care physician's
involvement will be.
- Does the hospital provide you with the necessary training to continue
your care in your home after you have been discharged? Ask what training
is provided in changing dressings, taking medications or using medical
devices. Does the hospital provide you with easy-to-understand written
instructions?
- Is the hospital clean? Visit the hospital and look around. Ask to
see the waiting rooms and patient care rooms. Does the waiting room
look comfortable? Would you want to recuperate in the patient rooms?
Do the patient rooms have comfortable chairs for visitors? Do you have
privacy in the room? If a personal visit is not possible, ask the hospital
to send or e-mail you information about their facilities and accreditation,
and visit their web site if possible. Also, contact the Joint Commission
of Accreditation at the number below.
Founded in 1951, the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is an independent,
not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits more than 18,000
health care organizations and programs including hospitals, health care
networks, laboratories, ambulatory, home care, long term care, and behavioral
health care organizations. If you would like to know if the organization
you are considering is accredited by the Joint Commission, please call
the Customer Service Center at (630) 792-5800, or visit "Quality
Check" on the JCAHO's web site at www.jcaho.org.
Performance reports, which provide useful and understandable information
about the performance of all organizations accredited by the Joint Commission,
are also available for some organizations in Quality Check.
Reprinted with permission from the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations.
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