What to Do If the Nearest Hospital Has Low Ratings

Discovering that your nearest hospital has low quality ratings can be concerning. Here's how to evaluate the situation realistically and explore your options.

Understanding the Rating

Before reacting to a low rating, understand the context:

• Check specific measures: A hospital with a low overall rating may excel in specific areas relevant to your needs
• Look at trends: Is the hospital improving over time?
• Consider the data: Small hospitals may have ratings affected by small sample sizes
• Multiple rating systems: A hospital may score differently across CMS stars, Leapfrog grades, and other systems

When a Low Rating May Not Matter as Much

• Emergencies: In a life-threatening emergency, the nearest hospital is almost always the right choice — time to treatment is critical for heart attack, stroke, and trauma
• Routine care: For minor illnesses or straightforward conditions, a lower-rated hospital may provide perfectly adequate care
• Your doctor's expertise: An experienced physician practicing at a lower-rated hospital may deliver excellent individual care

When to Consider Alternatives

• Elective surgery: For planned procedures, traveling to a higher-rated hospital may be worthwhile
• Complex conditions: Cancer treatment, cardiac surgery, and other complex care benefit from specialized centers
• Specific safety concerns: If the hospital is rated "Worse than the national average" on measures directly relevant to your care, exploring alternatives is prudent

Your Options

• Travel to a higher-rated hospital: For elective care, traveling 30-60 minutes to a better facility may be worthwhile
• Use urgent care for minor issues: Reduce hospital visits for non-emergency conditions
• Request transfers: In an emergency, after stabilization, you can request transfer to another facility
• Advocate for yourself: Ask questions, understand your treatment plan, and speak up about concerns
• Get a second opinion: Before major procedures, consult with a physician at another hospital

Being a Better-Informed Patient

Regardless of which hospital you use, being an informed and engaged patient improves outcomes:

• Ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment
• Ensure providers wash their hands before touching you
• Know your medications and allergies
• Bring an advocate (family member or friend) to appointments
• Follow discharge instructions carefully

Compare hospital quality at Medicare Care Compare.

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

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. In any emergency, call 911 and go to the nearest hospital.