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. 2010 Apr 13;12(2):e8. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1191

Table 1.

Brief descriptions of reviewed websites

Country and Websitea URL (Archived WebCite URL)b Description
 
 
Australia
1. Your Hospitals http://www.health.vic.gov.au/yourhospitals
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVd3AEQ)		 Initiative of the Consumer Participation and Information Program. The aim is to provide information to patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. The information is generated by the Department of Health, its funded agencies, and special interest groups.
 
Canada
2. Hospital Report http://www.hospitalreport.ca
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVfMnoX)		 Initiative of the HHRC (Hospital Report Research Collaborative). The aims are to increase public accountability and to improve quality of care.
 
Denmark
3. Sundhed http://www.sundhed.dk
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVsUhI3)		 Initiative of the Danish Ministry of Health. The reporting system ‘Sundhedkvalitet’ is managed by the National Board of Health. The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices.
 
Germany
4. Weisse Liste http://www.weisse-liste.de
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clW384wA)		 Initiative of the Bertelsmann Stiftung in collaboration with patient associations and scientific partners. The aims are to empower consumers and to support them in their health care choices.
5. Klinik Führer Rhein-Ruhr http://www.kliniken-rhein-ruhr.de
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clW4zeOf)		 Initiative of the Initiativkreis Ruhrgebiet Verwaltungs-GmbH (a collaborative of hospitals) in collaboration with scientific partners. The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices. The information is generated from the hospitals and from patient surveys.
6. Klinikführer
Rheinland		 http://www.klinikfuehrer-rheinland.de
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clWCp5WX)		 Initiative of the Krankenhauszweckverband Köln, Bonn, und Region (KHVZ) (a collaborative of hospitals). The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices. The information is generated from the hospitals by the KHVZ.
7. Hamburger
Krankenhaus-spiegel		 http://www.hamburger-krankenhausspiegel.de
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clWR10vD)		 Initiative of 25 hospitals in collaboration with other partners. The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices, and to stimulate providers’ quality improvement initiatives. The information is generated from the hospitals by independent audit parties.
8.Klinikbe-
wertungen		 http://www.klinikbewertungen.de
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clWVbRiG)		 Initiative of MedizInfo, which is an Internetportal about health and health care. The aim is to provide an independent online forum about consumers’ experiences in order to help consumers in their health care choices. A second aim is to stimulate providers’ quality improvement initiatives. The information is generated from consumers’ reports on the forum.
 
Ireland
9. Health Information and Quality Authority http://www.hiqa.ie
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZNb8km)		 Initiative of the Health Information and Quality Authority (part of the government’s health reform program). The aims are to monitor quality of care on a set of standards and to stimulate improvement initiatives. A third aim is to help consumers in their health care choices.
 
The Netherlands
10. kiesBeter http://www.kiesBeter.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clT0whdn)		 Initiative of the Ministry of Health and managed by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in collaboration with patient associations, health care providers, and scientific partners. The aim is to provide an independent portal for all questions from the public about health and health care. One particular aim is to support consumers in their health care choices.
11. Independer
Gezondheids-zorg		 http://www.independer.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clU1lwM3)		 Initiative of Independer.nl in collaboration with other parties. The aim is to increase transparency and to support consumers in their health care choices. The information is generated by the external parties, Mediquest and Zorgweb.
12. Zorgkiezer http://www.zorgkiezer.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clU6C5MZ)		 Initiative of DGN Publishers (Internet company) in collaboration with health care providers and health insurance companies. The aim is to help consumers and health care professionals in their choices. The information is generated by the website editors.
13. Zorgbelang http://www.zorgbelang-nederland.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUFSXlV)		 Initiative of Zorgbelang Nederland (association of local organizations advocating health care consumers’ interests) in collaboration with patient associations and other parties. The aim is to provide the public with information about health care.
14. Agis Zorggids http://www.agisweb.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUPVzGY)		 Initiative of health insurer Agis. The aim is to inform the insured about their options in health care (concerning contracted providers) and to provide public accountability for the activities of Agis. The information is generated by external parties.
15. Menzis
behandelwijzer		 http://www.menzis.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUWhkfA)		 Initiative of health insurer Menzis. The aim is to support the insured in their health care choices (concerning contracted providers). The information is generated by the health purchase department and by external parties.
16. VGZ Zorggids -Vergelijk en kies http://www.vgz.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUcadC0)		 Initiative of health insurer VGZ. The aim is to support the insured in their health care choices (concerning contracted providers). The information is generated by external parties.
17. CZ Ziekenhuisver-gelijker http://www.cz.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUhnHi0)		 Initiative of health insurer CZ. The aim is to support the insured in their health care choices (concerning contracted providers). The information is generated by external parties.
18. AD Ziekenhuisver-gelijker http://www.ad.nl/ziekenhuistop100
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUkUGcj)		 Initiative of the daily paper Algemeen Dagblad (AD), in collaboration with health care professionals and medical associations. The aim is to inform the public about hospital performances. The information is generated by the paper: hospitals are asked to provide the information.
19. Elsevier Beste Ziekenhuizen http://www.elsevier.nl/artimg/200709/besteziekenhuizen.pdf
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUqCXSH)		 Initiative of the weekly magazine, Elsevier, in collaboration with health care professionals, managers, and researchers. The aim is to inform the public about hospital performance concerning current questions in health care.
20. Vaatpatient http://www.vaatpatient.nl
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clUrNSEI)		 Initiative of the Vereniging van Vaatpatienten (VVVP) (vascular disease patient association). The aim is to support patients in their health care choices. The information is generated by external parties. The VVVP provides quality marks based on the information.
 
Norway
21. Fritt Sykehusvalg Norge http://www.frittsykehusvalg.no
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clV91h05)		 Initiative of the Norwegian Ministry of Health in collaboration with patient advisors. The aim is to empower consumers and to support consumers and health care professionals in their choices. In addition, the aim is to stimulate competition and quality improvement.
 
United Kingdom
22. Dr. Foster http://www.drfoster.co.uk
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clV0liGA)		 Private initiative in collaboration with the Information Centre for Health and Social Care, health service organizations, and local authorities. The aims are to inform consumers and health care professionals about the options in health care, and to support consumers in their health care choices. In addition, the aim is to stimulate quality improvement initiatives. The information is generated from a number of external sources.
23. NHS choices http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVBVDFE)		 Initiative of the NHS (National Health Services), in collaboration with the National Library for Health, the Information Centre for Health and Social Care, the Health care Commission and other parties. The aim is to support consumers in their decisions about health and health care.
24. Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority, clinics guide		 http://www.hfea.gov.uk
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVXndpE)		 Initiative of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The aims are to inform consumers about the options in health care and to support them in their health care choices. The information is generated by the HFEA and provided by the clinics.
25. British Association of Aesthetic Plastic
Surgeons		 http://www.baaps.org.uk
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVJK6mK)		 Initiative of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. The aims are to inform the public about the practice and quality of plastic surgery and to support consumers in their health care choices.
26. Private Healthcare UK http://www.privatehealth.co.uk
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clVKQVND)		 Initiative of Intuition Communication Ltd (a commercial organization). The aims are to inform consumers about options in private health care and to support them in their health care choices.
 
United States
 
27. Hospital Compare http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZSIjyU)		 Initiative of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Hospital Compare is a collaboration of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services, and members of the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA). The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices. The information is provided by the health care providers.
28. The Leapfrog Group http://www.leapfroggroup.org
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZVjgKj)		 Initiative of the Leapfrog Group (a collaboration of employers). The aim is to stimulate transparency and access to information in order to support health purchasers and consumers in their choices. In addition, the aim is to stimulate quality improvement initiatives. The information is provided by the health care providers.
29. The Patient Advocate http://www.opa.ca.gov/report_card
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZX6PqW)		 Initiative of the Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) in collaboration with the Department of Managed Health Care. The aim is to inform health care consumers about their rights and about the options in health care (patient empowerment). In addition, aims are to stimulate health care transparency and to support health care purchasers and consumers in their choices. The information is generated from a number of external sources.
30. Nursing Home
Compare		 http://www.medicare.gov/NHcompare
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZpsiiX)		 Initiative of Medicare. The aims are to inform the public about nursing home options in Medicare and to support consumers in their choices. The information is generated by external parties and/or provided by the nursing homes.
31. Home Health care Compare http://www.medicare.gov/HHcompare
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZlSuKF)		 Initiative of Medicare. The aims are to inform the public about home health care options in Medicare and to support consumers in their choices. The information is generated by external parties and/or provided by the home health care providers.
32. Dialysis Facility Compare http://www.medicare.gov/dialysis
(http://www.webcitation.org/5clZvYdSV)		 Initiative of Medicare. The aims are to inform the public about chronic kidney disease and dialysis, about dialysis facility options in Medicare, and to support consumers in their choices. The information is generated by external parties and/or provided by the facilities.
33. Medicare Options Compare http://www.medicare.gov/MPPF
(http://www.webcitation.org/5cla2KXFv)		 Initiative of Medicare. The aims are to inform the public about health plans options in Medicare and to support consumers in their choices. The information is generated by external parties and / or provided by the plans.
34. U Compare
Healthcare		 http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com
(http://www.webcitation.org/5cla68Ljp)		 Initiative of About, Inc (part of the New York Times Company). The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices. The information is generated from a number of external federal sources
35. California Nursing Home Search http://www.calnhs.org
(http://www.webcitation.org/5claA0qhi)		 Initiative of the California Health care Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the University of California. The aim is to inform the public about the options in health care. The information is generated from a number of external state and federal sources.
36. NCQA http://www.ncqa.org
(http://www.webcitation.org/5claG27UP)		 Initiative of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The aim is to stimulate transparency and quality improvement initiatives. In addition, the aim is to support consumers in their health care decisions. The information (based on a set of standardized measures) is generated by the NCQA.
37. US News Health http://health.usnews.com/sections/health
(http://www.webcitation.org/5claM7ca0)		 Initiative of the US News magazine (which also includes a weekly digital magazine). The aim is to inform the public about performance of hospitals (America’s best hospitals) and about health plans (America’s best health plans). The information is generated by the magazine’s editors.
38. AHD.com http://www.ahd.com
(http://www.webcitation.org/5claNNKMz)		 Initiative of the American Hospital Directory, Inc. (a private company). The aim is to inform subscribers about performances of hospitals. The information is generated by the company and extracted form a number of external sources.
39. Health Care Choices http://www.healthcarechoices.com
(http://www.webcitation.org/5claTftLr)		 Initiative of Health Care Choices (HCC) which is a not-for-profit corporation. The aims are to inform the public about the health care system and to support health care purchasers and consumers in their choices.
40. Quality Check http://www.qualitycheck.org
(http://www.webcitation.org/5claYPkbV)		 Initiative of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health care Organizations (JCAHQ), which is a non-for-profit organization. The aim is to support consumers in their health care choices. The information is provided by the health care providers to the Joint Commission.
41. PHC4 http://www.phc4.org
(http://www.webcitation.org/5ndQxiDQX)		 Initiative of the Pennsylvania’s Health Care Cost Containment Council. The aim is to increase transparency and competition between health care providers. The information is generated from hospitals and health plans by the Council.
Sweden
42. Aldre-guiden http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/aldreguiden
(http://www.webcitation.org/5cladHprj)		 Initiative of Socialstyrelsen (a governmental organization of the Ministry of Health). The aims are to inform consumers about the options in elderly care and to support their choices. In addition, the aim is to stimulate quality improvement initiatives. The information is provided by local authorities.

aDescription based on website content in September 2008.

bBecause website content and presentation formats change over time, the URLs have been archived: the URLs within brackets can be used to view the information on the home page.