Are hospital ratings systems transparent? An examination of Consumer Reports and the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Popovich, Deidre L.; Vogus, Timothy J.; Iacobucci, Dawn; Austin, J. Matthew
• Is Part Of: Health marketing quarterly. Volume 37:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Consumer Reports -- healthcare -- hospital ratings -- Hospital Safety Grade -- Leapfrog -- transparency; Medical care -- Marketing -- Periodicals; Medical instruments and apparatus industry -- Periodicals; Marketing of Health Services -- Periodicals; Periodicals -- Electronic full-text; 338.4761028
• DOI: 10.1080/07359683.2020.1713578
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-9683

Abstract

Abstract: The health care industry is complex, dynamic, and large. In such uncertain environments where a great deal of revenue is at stake, competition and comparative claims flourish. One such manifestation is hospital ratings systems. This research examines two influential hospital ratings to explore whether the hospital ratings of each system was straightforward and reproducible. Regressions and structural equations models were fit to examine the relationships among the hospital ratings constructs. Both hospital ratings systems were excellent in their transparency and reproducibility. The Consumer Reports and Leapfrog ratings systems can confidently tout that their hospital scores reflect what they claim to measure. The unique aspects of each system are also noted.