Web site gives data critiquing Oklahoma hospitals

The Oklahoma Hospital Association launched a Web site giving patient quality and safety information for 80 Oklahoma hospitals.

The site — www.okhospitalquality.org — also will help hospitals learn best practices for improving care, said Craig Jones, the hospital association’s president.

"The public has a great interest in the hospitals being more open and transparent about the services they provide to their patients,” he said.

Participation in the site is voluntary and most of the information is already available through federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. But Jones said the Oklahoma site is easier to navigate.

The Oklahoma site allows users to search and compare hospital data on 45 patient safety measures, including practices to reduce surgical infections and treatment protocol for heart attacks and pneumonia. For example, one measure reports how frequently aspirin is administered to a patient experiencing a heart attack.

Another section of the site compiles responses to patient surveys.

James Moore, president of Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon, said the site empowers consumers.

"A lot of patients place themselves at our mercy to take care of them,” he said. "If we can provide data about how care is rendered in our facility, it helps them make better decisions about their care.”