New Web site allows Minnesotans to compare health-care providers

For years, the internet has been the source of so much information for so many people. Starting Monday, Minnesotans are privy to some pretty important information.

"This is a big, important day for Minnesota," says Cal Ludeman, chairman of the Governor's Health Cabinet.

The information comes from the 2005 Health Care Quality Report, which rates the quality of patient care at clinics across the state.

Now that information is found online at www.mnhealthcare.org. The Web site features data from more than 700 clinics that serve more than 90 percent of all Minnesotans.

The study rates the clinics in several categories, including asthma care, children's health, depression and diabetes.

Three stars is above average, two stars is average and one star is below average.

"Consumers can now see not only what they're getting and what they pay for, but also become smarter health-care consumers," Ludeman says.

But the stats and stars don't just help consumers. They can actually help clinics.

"It recognizes those that are doing well and gives motivation to those who aren't doing as well to work a little harder," says Jim Chase, executive director of Minnesota Community Measurement, the nonprofit group that helps collect all the data.

High-performing groups were rewarded with a certificate Monday morning. Health Partners Medical Group was one of four health-care providers honored for its diabetes treatment.

Dr. Patrick Courneya, Health Partners assistant medical director, says such studies can be risky for clinics. But he thinks most health-care providers are confident in how this study measures success.

"We understand that it connects with what happens to our patients," Dr. Courneya says. "When we understand that and we trust the process for measuring those measures, we can take the risk."

In the past few weeks, state employees were allowed to use the Web site before enrolling in their health plans. State officials only have anecdotal evidence right now, but they believe it was useful to thousands of employees.

By Joe Fryer, KARE 11 News.

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