Five action principles to improve the effectiveness and impact of public reporting of health care quality

A key strategy for driving improvements in health care quality is providing com- parative quality information to consumers. This strategy will not work, and could even be counterproductive, unless (1) consumers are convinced that quality problems are real and consequential and that quality can be improved; (2) purchasers and policymakers make sure that quality reporting is standardized and universal; (3) consumers are given quality in- formation that is relevant and easy to understand and use; (4) the dissemination of quality information is improved; and (5) purchasers reward quality improvements and providers create the information and organizational infrastructure to achieve them.