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Carole Mikita Reporting Comparison shopping hospitals, even for specific treatments is not something Utah consumers have been able to do, until now. The Utah Department of Health presented their report today on maternity and newborns, and also launched a new website titled "My Healthcare in Utah".
Utahns can no longer afford NOT to be involved in their family's health care choices. That message came today from the State Dept. of Health and its Health Data Committee.
Clark Hinckley, Utah Health Data Committee Chairman: "I think most of us would agree the health care system in this country has some serious problems as evidenced by continuing escalating costs as well as the continuing numbers of people who do not have access to health insurance."
Passage of Senate Bill 132 required the data committee to publish annual reports comparing hospital quality, charges and patient safety. The first section of the report compares hospital charges for different kinds of maternity care. For example, the lowest charge for Caesarian Sections in hospitals along the Wasatch Front is $5,592 - the highest charge is $10,696. That's a difference of 5-thousand dollars. And there are other comparisons.
Keely Cofrin, Ph.D., Utah HMO Program Mgr. "In 2003, Utah's primary c-section rate, that is, the c-section rate among women who have never had one before, is significantly lower that the national average. Utah's primary c-section is 9% and the US rate is 16%."
And the Dept. of Health has launched a new website called MyHealthcare in Utah that can be found at health.utah.gov.
Anna Baker says she's used the website and it really works; she and her husband are particularly interested in this first part and delivery methods.
Anna Baker, Consumer: "I favor hospitals with low c-section rates and high vaginal delivery rates, so I'll use this report to help chose a hospital."
The report shows no one hospital is the best on any one indicator. Consumers will have to consider which county they live in and which procedures they prefer. Future reports will address heart conditions and common elective surgeries.
