2 different quality comparisons systems have been updated this summer. One from the NHQR enables US citizens to compare healthcare outcomes in the various states.The other enables Hungarians to compare providers. Usually US is quite good at all kind of quality measurements but the Hungarian example shows that they have to make a substantial effort if they are going to keep up. The US data do have the benefit that it’s in English making it easier for me to critique it but I must say that I think it would benefit from some efforts on making the user friendliness.
The Hungarian Quality Indicator System 2009 to be found on www.ebf.hu is a database covering 675 indicators. The total number of data is 120,000. Patients can compare 3 providers at a time.
The indicators are grouped into patient rights, patient safety, waiting list management, supplementary and hotel services, quality management, employee policies, and professional fields like obstetrics, cardiology, emergency health care, breast oncology, in vitro fertilisation and prenatal care.
Given that all individuals have different preferences I really like that individual weighs can be entered into the website!
Some of the findings I find interesting:
A good sign for the future is that patients are provided with information brochures on patient rights in 41% of the hospitals, and the half of the institutions makes the information available on their websites.
Good is that 12% of the consultation time is after the office hours (in 2008: 10%), providing easier access for working population.
But they still have some way to go: For example ultrasound diagnostics are available only in the 90% of the prenatal care providers.
Dr. Zsombor Kovacsy President of the EBF made a presentation on the Hungarian work at a conference on quality measurements that I arranged earlier this year in Prague. His and the other speakers presentation can be found here.
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