Cheryl Clark

Most experts agree that for specific procedures such as lung, pancreas, esophageal or rectal cancer surgeries, higher volume hospitals have better outcomes and lower mortality.

Medicare has released its long-awaited report card on overall quality of care in the nation's hospitals. The ratings use 64 measures, many of which focus on care practices so important that they can affect whether a patient lives or dies.

Scripps Health is so far the only San Diego County health system that uses patient reviews to provide online ratings of some of its doctors. They’re supposed to help patients pick physicians, but some suggest the ratings are a marketing ploy.

Drug and device company payments to physicians may influence prescribing practices and treatment recommendations that may not be in the best interests of patients, especially when cheaper equivalents are available.

Despite the San Diego region’s numerous health care facilities and medical sophistication, our hospitals don’t look that great.

UC San Diego Health was about to to post on their physicians’ public profile pages critiques from patients. But it has had to halt that project after realizing the surveys that went out to patients didn’t disclose that their comments could go public.