- Image via Wikipedia
Lake Wobegon was a place where “all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” We all recognize that Lake Wobegon is a quaint fiction; so why then do we act as if our doctors and hospitals come from a place where all are superhuman and there are no below-average doctors or hospitals?
A recent article in the WSJ highlights the benefits of using top-rated hospitals…that by making transparent the success rate of various procedures in Pennsylvania, companies that work with the best performing hospitals find significantly better outcomes for their employees…and save lots of money.
Although at times premium care can be exorbitant, there’s evidence some in Pennsylvania saved money using top-rated hospitals. Hershey Co. offered workers medical coverage based on the state agency’s reported outcomes, and cut the company’s expenses by 50% over several years. The Philadelphia police union’s benefits-management company says it uses the state reports to steer officers to the best hospitals; as a result, it say its costs fall about 17% below those of comparable plans.
