Hospital Rating Panel Makes Reports Public

A group that accredits 80% of the nation’s hospitals released its ratings reports to the public for the first time Thursday, quickly drawing complaints from hospitals about the fairness of the studies and from consumer groups about the price of the reports.

The release of the reports by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has created a furor in the hospital industry. Last week the American Hospital Assn. declared a “crisis in confidence” in the commission, but it seemed to take a more conciliatory approach Thursday.

“This is an important first step and will be useful to patients,” spokesman William Erwin said.

Meanwhile, hospital groups in California and a dozen other states are so upset about the reports that they are considering withdrawing support from the group.

“We recognize that hospitals must be accountable for the services they provide,” said Julie Hopkins, manager of accreditation issues for the Hospital Council of Southern California. But she said hospitals believe there are inconsistencies in the quality of the commission’s inspections and in its final reports. The reports grade hospitals on services and safety issues.

The commission’s reports Thursday cover almost 400 hospitals and 250 other health care institutions. Some of the Southern California hospitals include Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center, Orange County Community Hospital in Buena Park, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center and Pioneer Hospital in Artesia. Details of the reports were not immediately available, but copies of the studies can be ordered by writing the commission at 1 Renaissance Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181.

While commission officials said the release of the reports is designed to inform the public, a consumers group said the cost of the reports--$30 per hospital--is “prohibitive.”