Data Used on HospitalFinder.org

HospitalFinder compiles public data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services public data repositories at Medicare.gov. The Hospital Compare database contains several datasets used by HospitalFinder.org. These datasets are updated as follows:

Data Collection Period for Process of Care Quality Measures and HCAHPS Patient Survey

The collection period for the process of care quality measures is generally 12 months. As new measures are added, the collection period varies. Currently, the Hospital Compare quality measures are refreshed the third month of each quarter.

Data Collection Period for Mortality and Readmission Quality Measures

The collection period for the mortality and readmission measures is 36 months. The risk-adjusted 30- day risk-adjusted mortality and readmission measures for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia are produced from Medicare claims and enrollment data. The mortality and readmission quality measures will be refreshed once annually.

Data Collection Period for Structural Measures

The collection period for the Structural Measures is 6 months. The Structural Measures are refreshed once annually. The chart below provides the 6-month collection period for the Structural Measures in Hospital Compare.

We update our data directly from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services whenever a major update to the Medicare datasets are released.

The data in HospitalFinder.org's repository is current as of January 11, 2011