The Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) is a national public-private partnership that represents diverse stakeholders, including hospitals, health professionals, government agencies, quality experts, purchasers, and consumer groups. The HQA has worked collaboratively to develop a shared national strategy for hospital quality measurement and public reporting.

A cornerstone of the public-private collaboration is Hospital Compare (www.HospitalCompare.hhs.gov), a website that provides meaningful hospital quality of care information to the public in a consistent, unified manner. Hospital Compare provides consumers with information about clinical quality, how patients fared after being discharged, and their experience with hospital care. Performance information is available for more than 4,000 hospitals across the country.

“For the past five years, the HQA has shared with the public useful information on hospital quality of care. But the HQA’s efforts can have an even greater impact if they’re part of larger efforts to improve the healthcare system as a whole,” said Richard J. Umbdenstock, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association and Chair of the HQA. “The focus and range of groups involved with the National Priorities Partnership is critical to achieving better patient care throughout the healthcare field. The HQA will make sure that its public reporting efforts are in step with the Priorities established by NPP.”

The HQA will continue to work to expand the information that is available to consumers in order to help them make more informed decisions about hospital care.

For more information on HQA, please visit www.hospitalqualityalliance.org.