Consumer information, patient satisfaction surveys, and public reports.

This article describes information useful for consumers and purchasers in making choices about health care services. Two types of information are described, patient satisfaction surveys and public reports about the price and outcomes of health care services such as those published by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Patient satisfaction surveys can be used to provide valuable information about health care. The goal of patient satisfaction reporting is to incorporate the patient's perspective to improve care. Public reports about the price and outcome of hospital and physician services not only facilitate consumer and purchaser choice, they also encourage continuous quality improvement by providers.