Measuring quality and publicly reporting the information is a powerful mechanism to drive improvements in our nation's health care system.  Consumers need reliable, comparative data to help make informed decisions and health care providers need standardized performance information to support their improvement efforts.

The Hospital Quality Alliance advances measures that are endorsed by the National Quality Forum (www.qualityforum.org ) - a multi-stakeholder organization comprised of more than 350 organizations representing consumers, purchasers, health care professionals, providers, health systems, insurers, state governments, and federal agencies.  By implementing consensus-based, nationally standardized performance measures, the HQA promotes a common, unified approach to measurement and reporting.

Hospital Compare (www.HospitalCompare.hhs.gov ) contains performance information about more than 4,000 hospitals and data are updated quarterly in approximately March, June, September, and December.  The HQA will continue to expand Hospital Compare to include additional measures that will help consumers assess hospital quality and value and make informed decisions about their care.

• For detailed definitions of each of the quality measures and information on hospital performance, visit Hospital Compare. 
   
• For detailed information about measurement specifications and data collection and transmission, please visit the QualityNet website.
   
• For a list of quality measures reported to CMS for Medicare payment determination and posting on Hospital Compare, please click here.
   
• For a list of measures that have been adopted by the Hospital Quality Alliance, please see below:
  • HQA Approved Hospital Inpatient Measures (.xlsx), January 5, 2010
  • HQA Approved Hospital Outpatient Measures (.xlsx), January 5, 2010