Web Site Launches New Service To Allow Members To Rate Health Care Experiences
Angie's List on Monday launched a new service that allows members to rate health care services -- the "latest sign that consumerism is becoming a major force in the health care industry," the Indianapolis Star reports. The Web site started as a way for consumers to rate home service providers such as painters and plumbers. The site, which has about 600,000 members nationwide, now allows users to rate services in 55 categories of health care, including dentistry, hospitals, insurance providers and a variety of medical specialties. Members assign grades from "A" to "F" for each area covered in the ratings.Angie's List founder Angie Hicks said a poll of the site's members showed that 76% wanted to be able to rate health care services. She said, "People are looking for a doctor that they can easily talk to and be open with." Linda Heitzman, director of the life science and health practice at Deloitte Consulting, said, "It's a great extension of the consumer movement and more evidence of that in health care. We're really making the shift from 'patient' to 'consumer.'"
However, some health care professionals say medical services cannot be rated in the same way as services provided in other industries and question whether the site will provide credible recommendations. Jon Marhenke, president of the Indiana State Medical Association, said, "The rating system is going to look at the experience the patient has, or had, at the appointment. It's not going to rate the quality of the medical care that was provided. ... They may see a wonderful office and very courteous people, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they received good care" (Lee, Indianapolis Star, 3/25). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
