How to Evaluate Healthcare Quality: A Patient's Guide
HSChange Editorial Team
Health Policy Research Team, Consumer Health Guidance
Reviewed by Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, MPH, Board-Certified Internal Medicine
Last updated: April 4, 2026
Not all hospitals and doctors are the same. CMS rates over 3,200 hospitals on a 1 to 5 star scale. Leapfrog gives safety grades from A to F. Preventable adverse events in hospitals affect about 1 in 10 patients. And only about 50% of patients research a doctor's credentials before their first visit. You can do better than that.
Where to Check Quality
CMS Care Compare (medicare.gov/care-compare) is the federal government's free tool for comparing hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, and other providers. It shows data on patient experience, outcomes, safety, and timely care. You don't need to be on Medicare to use it.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade (hospitalsafetygrade.org) assigns letter grades twice a year to about 3,000 hospitals based on patient safety. In the most recent report, roughly 33% got an A, 25% a B, and 42% got C or lower.
How to Check Doctor Credentials
Verify board certification at certificationmatters.org (ABMS). Check licensing and disciplinary actions at docinfo.org (Federation of State Medical Boards). About 940,000 physicians hold active ABMS board certifications. Your state medical board's website also shows disciplinary actions, license restrictions, and malpractice history.
The Six Dimensions of Quality
The Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) defined six dimensions of healthcare quality: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. When you're evaluating a provider or hospital, think about these categories. Are they safe? Do they use evidence-based treatments? Do they listen to you? Can you get an appointment when you need one?
When to Get a Second Opinion
A Mayo Clinic study found that second opinions changed the diagnosis 21% of the time and refined it another 66% of the time. That means 88% of second opinions added meaningful information. Medicare covers second surgical opinions. If you're facing a major diagnosis, surgery, or treatment plan that feels wrong, get another perspective.