How to choose a hospital
For planned care you often have a choice; for emergencies you do not. Use the data here to plan, and use the nearest emergency department when it is urgent.
1. Check the CMS rating and the five measure groups
The overall star rating summarises mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience and timeliness. Read the groups, not just the star: a hospital may be strong on outcomes and weak on patient experience, or vice versa. Each hospital page shows whether each group is better than, no different from, or worse than the national average.
2. Match the hospital type to the care
5,419 hospitals are in this directory. Acute-care hospitals handle most inpatient and emergency care; critical access hospitals serve rural areas with limited beds; children's, psychiatric, rehabilitation and long-term care hospitals specialise. Confirm the hospital offers the service you need before travelling.
3. Check emergency and specialty services
Not every hospital has an emergency department (83% here do) or meets the CMS birthing-friendly criteria (42%). If emergency care or maternity care matters, filter for it on the hospital page.
4. Check network and cost
Insurance networks matter as much as quality: an out-of-network hospital can cost far more. Confirm the hospital is in your plan's network before booking elective care, and ask for an estimate of your share. If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance before care — see hospital financial assistance.
5. Ask these questions
- How many of these procedures does the hospital do each year?
- Who will be my surgeon or attending, and what is their experience?
- What are the hospital's infection and readmission rates for my condition?
- What is the plan for discharge and follow-up?
Written and maintained by the US Hospitals data team · last reviewed 2026-10-24 · sources and methodology.