Editorial: Getting the scoop

Monday, March 5, 2007 | 7:17 a.m.

A Nevada assemblywoman has proposed legislation to create an Internet site that would allow people to comparison-shop for hospitals similar to how they can shop for the best prices on cars or major appliances.

Assembly Bill 146, introduced by Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, would require the state to create and maintain an online listing that would provide information on the costs of medical procedures, the average lengths of stay, the overall quality of care and the death rates of Nevada hospitals.

According to a story by the Las Vegas Sun's Cy Ryan last week, hospitals support the concept of such a site, as long as the listing also includes information on other health care providers, such as doctors, surgical centers, nursing homes and health management organizations (HMOs). Some states already provide such listings, Leslie said.

Dozens of private organizations also offer national hospital comparison lists online. But national lists often are not as comprehensive as a statewide list could be. Many are specific to only certain types of care - such as cardiac or pediatric programs. And extracting information from multiple sites doesn't work for making comparisons because the data listed varies by site.

An objective, accurate, state-run list could prove useful to people seeking hospital care in Nevada. But it also should provide information on surgical centers, nursing homes and other facilities that offer similar services and long-term care.

People who need the services of a hospital, surgery center or nursing home typically are facing a multitude of challenges. Finding a suitable place to receive such care should not be made more difficult by a lack of access to information about these facilities. A site where consumers could research and compare services and prices could improve their ability to make good choices and could help provide a more economical use of their time and health care dollars.