Public reporting of outcomes: Implications of hospital and physician comparison sites

Several events have cascaded into the current climate of quality initiatives to improve the quality and safety of medical care. This has resulted in an explosion of public reporting of hospital and physician outcomes. While the intent is to provide useful and accurate information, there are several limitations to making direct comparisons across hospitals and physicians that care for a variety of patients in varying systemic environments. It is important to understand the limitations of public reporting before the widespread adoption of their use for reimbursement and referral patterns.