How to Find the Best Hospital Near You

Finding the best hospital in your area involves more than simply choosing the closest one. By using free online tools and asking the right questions, you can identify hospitals that offer the quality of care you deserve.

Step 1: Use Medicare Care Compare

The best starting point is the official CMS tool:

• Visit Medicare Care Compare
• Enter your ZIP code, city, or state
• Filter by hospital type, emergency services, and other criteria
• Compare quality ratings for hospitals in your area
• Look at individual quality measures, not just the overall star rating

Step 2: Know What to Look For

Different situations call for different priorities:

For planned surgery

• Focus on surgical complication rates and mortality for your specific procedure
• Check procedure volume — experience matters
• Verify your surgeon has privileges at the hospital

For emergency care

• Know which nearby hospitals have emergency departments
• Check if any are trauma centers and at what level
• Note emergency department wait times

For chronic conditions

• Look at readmission rates for your condition
• Check if the hospital has relevant specialty programs
• Consider outpatient services and support programs

For maternity care

• Verify the hospital has labor and delivery services
• Check if there is a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in case of complications
• Look at patient experience scores

Step 3: Verify Insurance Coverage

• Check with your insurance provider for in-network hospitals
• Confirm that both the hospital and your doctors are in-network
• Understand your potential out-of-pocket costs
• Ask about financial assistance programs

Step 4: Consider Additional Factors

• Accreditation: Is the hospital accredited by The Joint Commission or another recognized body?
• Specialties: Does the hospital specialize in areas relevant to your needs?
• Technology: Does the hospital have modern diagnostic and treatment equipment?
• Patient experience: What do HCAHPS scores reveal about communication, responsiveness, and cleanliness?
• Accessibility: Consider parking, public transportation access, and visiting hours

Step 5: Talk to Your Doctor

Your primary care physician or specialist can provide valuable insight into which hospitals offer the best care for your specific situation. They know the local healthcare landscape and can recommend facilities where they have confidence in the care teams.

Data sourced from CMS. Visit Medicare Care Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.