(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Princeton, NJ) -- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched the nation’s most comprehensive online directory for patients to find reliable information on the quality of health care provided by physicians and hospitals in their communities. From Maine to California, medical patients can scroll over a U.S. map and find web-based resources to help them choose a doctor or hospital in their town, based on whether patients received recommended tests and treatment, the outcomes of their care, their experience with providers, or the overall cost of care.

Comparing Health Care Quality: A National Directory is a map-based listing of health care “performance measurement” resources available across the country. The directory links to 197 free and publicly available reports in 46 states, as well as 27 reports with information on the performance of physicians and hospitals nationwide. There are no reports for Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, and Alabama.

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